meet our flight instructors

Troy Short began his aviation career in 1985 while studying Aviation Technology at St. Petersburg College and later continued his education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. During that time, he earned his Commercial Single- and Multi-Engine certificates and CFII, laying the foundation for a lifelong career in aviation.

Throughout the 1990s, Troy volunteered with the Civil Air Patrol as a check airman, conducted flight training, taught ground school, and participated in search and rescue missions. He also instructed at Part 141 flight schools, helping pilots develop the knowledge and confidence to achieve their aviation goals.

After accepting a position with a Fortune 500 company and starting a family, Troy continued instructing part-time while remaining active in aviation. Today, as CE-500 Program Manager at Recurrent Training Center, he leads the Citation CE-500 training program while continuing to mentor pilots in the classroom and simulator. Troy’s teaching philosophy is simple: “To guide each student’s dream of flying into reality.”

Jim Brunner has been flying since 1972 and has dedicated his career to aviation. Inspired by a lifelong passion for flying, he built an accomplished career that included positions with American Airlines, US Airways, Cessna Aircraft Company, Eastern Airlines, and several corporate aviation organizations before retiring as an American Airlines Captain.

Over the course of his career, Jim accumulated more than 26,000 flight hours while flying a diverse range of aircraft, including Airbus, Boeing, Learjet, King Air, Beechcraft, and Cessna aircraft. His broad operational experience provides students with valuable real-world insight and practical knowledge gained across airline, corporate, and general aviation operations.

As an instructor at Recurrent Training Center, Jim is committed to developing knowledgeable, safety-focused pilots. His teaching philosophy emphasizes continuous learning, sound decision-making, and helping each student build the confidence and skills needed to safely enjoy every flight.

Julio Otero’s passion for aviation began as a young boy after flying aboard a DC-3 between San Juan and St. Croix. What started as childhood fascination grew into a career spanning nearly five decades, including commuter airlines, corporate aviation, and 33 years flying for UPS.

Throughout his career, Julio has flown a wide variety of aircraft, from piston airplanes and turboprops to some of the world’s most recognizable transport-category jets. His experience includes the Boeing 727, 747, 757, 767, MD-11, DC-8, as well as the King Air 300 and Citation 500 series. Before joining Recurrent Training Center, he retired from UPS after an accomplished airline career built on professionalism and operational excellence.

As an instructor, Julio is passionate about sharing the knowledge and experience he gained throughout his career. He trains pilots with the discipline and professionalism of Part 121 airline operations, placing a strong emphasis on safety, sound decision-making, and preparing every student for success in the cockpit.

Troy Short began his aviation career in 1985 while studying Aviation Technology at St. Petersburg College and later continued his education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. During that time, he earned his Commercial Single- and Multi-Engine certificates and CFII, laying the foundation for a lifelong career in aviation.

Throughout the 1990s, Troy volunteered with the Civil Air Patrol as a check airman, conducted flight training, taught ground school, and participated in search and rescue missions. He also instructed at Part 141 flight schools, helping pilots develop the knowledge and confidence to achieve their aviation goals.

After accepting a position with a Fortune 500 company and starting a family, Troy continued instructing part-time while remaining active in aviation. Today, as CE-500 Program Manager at Recurrent Training Center, he leads the Citation CE-500 training program while continuing to mentor pilots in the classroom and simulator. Troy’s teaching philosophy is simple: “To guide each student’s dream of flying into reality.”

Troy Short began his aviation career in 1985 while studying Aviation Technology at St. Petersburg College and later continued his education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. During that time, he earned his Commercial Single- and Multi-Engine certificates and CFII, laying the foundation for a lifelong career in aviation.

Throughout the 1990s, Troy volunteered with the Civil Air Patrol as a check airman, conducted flight training, taught ground school, and participated in search and rescue missions. He also instructed at Part 141 flight schools, helping pilots develop the knowledge and confidence to achieve their aviation goals.

After accepting a position with a Fortune 500 company and starting a family, Troy continued instructing part-time while remaining active in aviation. Today, as CE-500 Program Manager at Recurrent Training Center, he leads the Citation CE-500 training program while continuing to mentor pilots in the classroom and simulator. Troy’s teaching philosophy is simple: “To guide each student’s dream of flying into reality.”

Troy Short began his aviation career in 1985 while studying Aviation Technology at St. Petersburg College and later continued his education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. During that time, he earned his Commercial Single- and Multi-Engine certificates and CFII, laying the foundation for a lifelong career in aviation.

Throughout the 1990s, Troy volunteered with the Civil Air Patrol as a check airman, conducted flight training, taught ground school, and participated in search and rescue missions. He also instructed at Part 141 flight schools, helping pilots develop the knowledge and confidence to achieve their aviation goals.

After accepting a position with a Fortune 500 company and starting a family, Troy continued instructing part-time while remaining active in aviation. Today, as CE-500 Program Manager at Recurrent Training Center, he leads the Citation CE-500 training program while continuing to mentor pilots in the classroom and simulator. Troy’s teaching philosophy is simple: “To guide each student’s dream of flying into reality.”

Bob Kendrick discovered his passion for aviation while attending college in Missouri, where he initially studied psychology before deciding to pursue a career as a professional pilot. After earning his CFI, CFII, and MEI certificates, he began his career as a flight instructor before advancing to commuter and Part 121 airline operations.

Throughout his career, Bob served as a captain and check airman, flying international routes supporting Air New Zealand, Qantas, UPS, Saudia, and Air France. He accumulated more than 15,000 hours of turbine flight time, including over 11,000 hours in the Boeing 747, while flying throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, India, and the South Pacific.

As a Training Center Evaluator and instructor at Recurrent Training Center, Bob specializes in King Air initial and recurrent training. His teaching philosophy emphasizes teamwork, standard operating procedures, and preparing pilots to make sound decisions in every phase of flight.

Dr. Stuart A. Campbell brings more than three decades of aviation experience across military, academic, and operational environments. He served 25 years in the U.S. Army, flying and instructing in both rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft while holding leadership and safety-focused roles around the world. 

Following his military career, Dr. Campbell worked in aviation education as a chief ground instructor and associate professor, teaching private, instrument, and navigation courses. He later returned to operational flying, serving as a contract pilot and site lead flying the King Air 350/350ER in specialized mission environments. 

Dr. Campbell currently flies with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Aviation Unit, operating aircraft including the Citation Latitude, King Air 350 and 200, Bell 206, and single-engine aircraft. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate with multiple type ratings and instructor credentials. 

As an instructor, Dr. Campbell emphasizes professionalism, safety, and real-world decision-making, drawing on decades of leadership and instructional experience.

Bill Ryan began flying in July 1976 after discovering a passion for aviation at a young age. Fascinated by aircraft such as the Cessna 320 and inspired by a lifelong interest in aviation and space, he built a career spanning decades in professional flying and instruction.

Throughout his career, Bill has flown for numerous corporate flight departments and charter operators across the United States. His experience includes aircraft such as the Citation series, King Air 350, Piper Cheyenne, Hawker 800XP, Falcon 20, and the Piaggio Avanti. Before joining Recurrent Training Center, he instructed at Part 141 flight schools while continuing to build extensive operational experience.

As an instructor at Recurrent Training Center, Bill believes that effective training combines real-world experience with solid preparation. His philosophy is simple: “Meet it, fly it, teach it.” By sharing practical knowledge gained throughout his career, he helps pilots build confidence, proficiency, and sound decision-making skills.

George Nicolai brings more than five decades of aviation experience across military, corporate, and international flight operations. His aviation career began after joining the Romanian Air Force Military Academy in 1971, where he developed the foundation for a lifelong career in professional flying.

Throughout his career, George has flown and instructed for organizations around the world, including FlightSafety International, NetJets/EJM, Gulf Air, and several international corporate and charter operators. His experience includes aircraft such as the King Air 300/350, Citation 500/560 series, Gulfstream V, Hawker HS-125, Learjet 45, and Boeing 737.

As an instructor, George believes in one simple philosophy: “Train as you fly, fly as you train.” He is committed to providing practical, real-world instruction that prepares pilots to operate confidently, safely, and professionally in every phase of flight.

Leo Rodriguez began flying in 1994 after developing a passion for aviation at a young age. Over the past three decades, he has built a diverse career that combines airline operations, technical expertise, and pilot instruction.

Before joining Recurrent Training Center, Leo spent 16 years flying for ExpressJet Airlines (Continental and United Express). In addition to his airline career, he has worked as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI, CFII, MEI), an A&P mechanic, and a business owner. His experience includes flying a wide variety of single- and multi-engine aircraft from manufacturers including Embraer, Piper, Cessna, Beechcraft, and Socata.

As an instructor at Recurrent Training Center, Leo believes learning should be both enjoyable and rewarding. His philosophy is simple: “Have fun, and always keep learning. In this business, knowledge is safety.” He strives to create a positive learning environment while helping pilots build the knowledge, confidence, and skills they need to fly safely.

Over the course of his career, Kirk accumulated more than 21,000 flight hours and retired as an Airbus Captain with United Airlines. In addition to his airline experience, he has remained deeply involved in general aviation, owning and operating several twin-engine Cessna aircraft and a Mitsubishi MU-2, giving him a unique perspective across both airline and owner-flown operations.

As an instructor at Recurrent Training Center, Kirk believes that simplicity is the foundation of safe flying. By tailoring training to each individual pilot and drawing from his continued real-world flying experience, he helps clients build practical skills, sound judgment, and confidence in the cockpit.

Troy Short began his aviation career in 1985 while studying Aviation Technology at St. Petersburg College and later continued his education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. During that time, he earned his Commercial Single- and Multi-Engine certificates and CFII, laying the foundation for a lifelong career in aviation.

Throughout the 1990s, Troy volunteered with the Civil Air Patrol as a check airman, conducted flight training, taught ground school, and participated in search and rescue missions. He also instructed at Part 141 flight schools, helping pilots develop the knowledge and confidence to achieve their aviation goals.

After accepting a position with a Fortune 500 company and starting a family, Troy continued instructing part-time while remaining active in aviation. Today, as CE-500 Program Manager at Recurrent Training Center, he leads the Citation CE-500 training program while continuing to mentor pilots in the classroom and simulator. Troy’s teaching philosophy is simple: “To guide each student’s dream of flying into reality.”

Leo Rodriguez began flying in 1994 after developing a passion for aviation at a young age. Over the past three decades, he has built a diverse career that combines airline operations, technical expertise, and pilot instruction.

Before joining Recurrent Training Center, Leo spent 16 years flying for ExpressJet Airlines (Continental and United Express). In addition to his airline career, he has worked as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI, CFII, MEI), an A&P mechanic, and a business owner. His experience includes flying a wide variety of single- and multi-engine aircraft from manufacturers including Embraer, Piper, Cessna, Beechcraft, and Socata.

As an instructor at Recurrent Training Center, Leo believes learning should be both enjoyable and rewarding. His philosophy is simple: “Have fun, and always keep learning. In this business, knowledge is safety.” He strives to create a positive learning environment while helping pilots build the knowledge, confidence, and skills they need to fly safely.