Our Team

Bill Sheridan in the Spruce Goose
Bill Sheridan at the controls of Howard Hughes’ famous “Spruce Goose”

Our Leadership Team

Until now, RIAHOF’s primary objective has been to develop an aviation-based complement to the ship museum and attraction involving ex-SARATOGA. Some of the key personnel involved with this submission have been closely involved in the development of the plan for a world-class family attraction, education center, job training facility, museum and memorial on Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay, featuring a retired aircraft carrier as its centerpiece. That experience and knowledge base is fully transferable to the JFK effort.

We believe the experience of our professional team (combined with their organizational experience in running a Cold War Museum as well as an Aviation Hall of Fame), and the financial strength and acumen of our major donors offer the Navy the strongest possible option for a successful donation. Key members of project leadership, major prospective donors and several project consultants also toured JFK in Boston on March 1, 2007.

RIAHOF is led by former National Warplane Museum director Frank Lennon and is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors, along with an Advisory Council boasting a wealth of local and national experience.  Another Director, William E. Sheridan, retired as Rhode Island’s Assistant Chief of Statewide Planning. During his more than thirty years with the state, Mr. Sheridan was responsible for numerous state and federal grant programs.

Our management and operational capability has been enhanced by a demonstrated ability to generate positive media coverage, build bi-partisan consensus, and develop grass roots support from diverse and often competing interest groups.

RIAHOF has also demonstrated an ability to attract the support and expertise of prominent individuals, as can be seen by the list Directors and Advisors.
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Expertise Available to this Project

BG James D'Agostino, USAF (Ret)
BG James D’Agostino, USAF (Ret)

As with any other business, success of this initiative will depend on our ability to hire top-notch people in key positions.  The talent we have assembled within the volunteer ranks, consultant corps, directors and trustees of the USS Saratoga Museum Foundation will be available to implement our programs, as well as market and successfully operate the project.

Since 1998 more than 800 USS Saratoga Museum Foundation, Inc. volunteers have contributed some 350,000 hours in support of the vision of an aircraft carrier attraction in Narragansett Bay. By a huge margin, the majority of those hours have been invested by those who believe in the overall concept and the vision; they did not make that commitment based on the name on the stern of the ship. In fact, only a handful of the active volunteers on the Saratoga project are Saratoga veterans. Most are local residents who believe the concept offers significant benefits to their state and their community

The execution of our certain elements of our plan will require talents and skills over and above those currently available within the organization. To that end we have involved a number of professionals to supervise this work and/or consult on the project.

Retired Naval Aviator Rich Suttie and his Eagle Scout son Kyle at a recent RI National Guard Air Show.
Retired Naval Aviator Rich Suttie and his Eagle Scout son Kyle at a recent RI National Guard Air Show.

For example:

  • UK-based Tension Technology International Ltd. will develop our mooring plan.
  • John Evans of Xplore Productions, Bob Ballard’s exhibit designer, will produce our exhibit plan.
  • Commonwealth Engineering will address structural and landside development issues.
  • ConsultEcon, Inc. will produce the market demand, economic impact and financial feasibility studies.
  • The Boston office of Goodwin Procter will provide all legal services.

Our management and operational credibility has been enhanced by a demonstrated ability to generate positive media coverage, build bi-partisan consensus, and develop grass roots support from diverse and often competing interest groups.

For further information about Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame (RIAHOF), please visit www.riahof.org

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View the Officers, Directors, Trustees and Advisors of the RIAHOF [clear]

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