Dondi Pangalangan

Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives

Dondi brings over three decades of business aviation executive and team leadership experience to Clay Lacy, as well as expertise gained from his military career.   Dondi is responsible for developing positive working relationships with governmental, industry, and community agencies and groups with a focus on developing the next generation of aviation professionals.  He leads corporate initiatives focused on workforce development, community and industry collaboration.  Dondi also works closely with the military, universities, trade schools, and flight schools to expand career opportunities for professionals entering the business aviation industry.

First joining Clay Lacy in 2019 as vice president of flight operations where he was instrumental in leading the organizations development of its SMSVP certification in the top 2% nationally, and industry-first partnership with CAE.  Before joining Clay Lacy, he held vice president of operations, assistant chief pilot, and large cabin fleet instructor pilot positions at both regional and national private jet companies, and was a program manager, chief instructor and check airman at FlightSafety International. He holds an Air Transport Pilot license, with more than 13,000 hours of flight time, and is type rated in multiple Gulfstream, Embraer and Citation business jet models.

A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, Dondi was director of operations, training and standards at the Ohio Air National Guard 121 Air Refueling Wing, comprising 2 squadrons with more than 1,000 personnel. Earlier, he was a pilot in the U.S. Navy, flying the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopter and T-34, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander, holding numerous positions overseeing operations, maintenance, pilot training and other key functions.

He completed the Air Command and Staff College at the Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, earned a BS in psychology from Otterbein College and holds a M.Ed in leadership systems from the University of West Florida at Pensacola.

Committees

  • FAA ARCs Standardized 135 Training
  • FAA Aircrew Training
  • NBAA Aircrew Training
  • NBAA Domestic Operations Committee
  • NATA Air Charter Committee
  • LAWA Workforce Development
  • VNAA Workforce Development
  • Simi Valley Workforce Development