Business aviation connectivity provider Satcom Direct (SD) has bolstered its senior executive team with the addition of Keith Shelburn and John Kummer in two new roles.
Shelburn takes up the position of vice president of aviation, as Kummer becomes vice president of strategy and programs, with immediate effect.
Both Shelburn and Kummer were former clients of SD, and representing the voice of the customer is an integral aspect of their new roles. Shelburn will be responsible for managing SD’s flight department, which also serves as the test bed for all new SD products and services. Kummer will oversee commercial strategy and new program development with the customer in mind.
Prior to joining SD, both Shelburn and Kummer served as directors of aviation for Fortune 100 companies, which gives them perspective into the needs and expectations of SD customers. They will use this experience to review the opportunities for the customer presented by the development, deployment and demonstration of new SD technology.
“Keith and John’s first-hand knowledge of the demands faced by today’s flight departments provides invaluable insight that will help SD keep its products and services responsive and relevant. Their aviation and management skills will be used to help SD stay focused on the needs of its customers,” said Jim Jensen, SD’s chief executive officer and founder.
Kummer, born and raised in Minnesota, is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in business management. He has 23 years of corporate flight department experience, most recently working for 3M as director of aviation, training and chief pilot flying Gulfstream IV, V, 550 and 650 aircraft. He also flew the C-130 as part of his active and reserve service for the USAF/Minnesota Air Guard. As a previous member of Gulfstream, GoGo, and Jeppesen customer advisory boards, he is well positioned to review business from the customer perspective.
A native of Connecticut, Shelburn came to SD from DuPont, where he began working in 1981 as a pilot and served 11 years as aviation director. He has flown numerous corporate aircraft including all Gulfstream types from the Gulfstream GI through to the Gulfstream G550, on which he is currently qualified.
Shelburn earned a bachelor of science degree in aviation from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, an aviation safety certificate from the University of Southern California, and the aeroIT certificate from SD. He holds the FAA qualifications of airline transport pilot, certified flight instructor.
Additional career highlights include participation on the FSF Corporate Advisory Board, and founding of the Aviation Safety Roundtable in 1992 to promote sharing safety-related information among corporate flight operations. This group remains active to this day and has spawned similar groups throughout the industry.
