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Name: Christopher Funk
Position: Pilot
City: Madison
Term End Date: 10/30/2024
Biography:
Appointed 2010.
Christopher "Chris" Funk was born in Minneapolis, MN. He obtained Airframe / Power plant license with Inspection authorization, private, commercial, and flight instructor certificate while owning / operating Madison Aircraft LLC. Chris has worked for South Dakota State University Aviation Education since November 2011. He currently owns and flies a Beechcraft Bonanza and a 1946 Piper J3 Cub.
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Name: Robert Huggins
Position:
City: Sioux Falls
Term End Date: 10/30/2026
Biography:
Appointed 2017.
Robert "Bob" Huggins was born in Rapid City. He graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1979 with a degree in Aviation Management. At UND, he earned his Private Pilot License. Bob's been a controller in Fargo, Rapid City, Huron and Sioux Falls Regional Airport. He was a controller at FSD in the 80s, and returned as a supervisor in March 2005 and was named the Air Traffic Manager (ATM) in November of 2005. While ATM, some of the highlights included helping Raven establish their facility north of FSD Airport, helping develop instrument procedures for Avera/McKennon and Sanford Hospitals Helipads, and overseeing the development of procedures for allowing drone operations at airports along with the map program that is used by drone operators. FSD procedures were so ground breaking that he went to FAA Headquarters in Washington, DC to assist in developing procedures for controllers and pilots. After 35+ years, he retired.
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Name: Rolf Johnson
Position: Pilot
City: Mina
Term End Date: 10/30/2024
Biography:
Appointed 2018.
Rolf Johnson was born and raised in Aberdeen, SD. He graduated from Aberdeen Central High School. He has two associate degrees, automotive technology and automotive marketing, as well as bachelor’s degrees in management and marketing from Northwood University in Midland, MI. In the early 80's, Rolf obtained his private pilot license that allowed him to either piloted or co-piloted trips for family business purposes. Since 2000, he has held various board seats on the Aberdeen Airport Advisory Board where he is currently Vice Chair. In 2010, Rolf co-founded the Brown County Flying Club. In the three years to follow, he recruited 10 new pilots to join the club. Rolf has piloted at least a dozen aircraft and has flown to most of South Dakota’s airports along with 100 plus airports nationwide. Rolf lives with his wife Valerie at Mina Lake, 12 miles west of Aberdeen. He has three grown children. His hobbies outside of flying include running, cars, and motorcycles.
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Name: Kassidy Nelson
Position: Pilot
City: Elkton
Term End Date: 10/30/2025
Biography:
Appointed 2018.
Kassidy Nelson grew up in Elkton, SD. He joined the US Army in 2009 after receiving a BS degree in Aviation Education from SDSU. He was assigned to the 1-6 Cavalry Regiment at Fort Riley, KS. He served as an air mission commander & unit trainer during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from 2013-14. After receiving an honorable discharge from active US Army service, he returned home to continue his service as a North Dakota guardsman flying the UH-72 & has been flying the rural communities as fixed-wing and helicopter pilot for Avera Careflight. He’s continued his involvement in the SDSU Aviation program by sharing his experiences & insights & has been an SDSU aviation advisory board member since 2010. Kassidy’s professional aeronautical certifications include: Airline Transport Pilot, Commercial Pilot Privileges, and Certified Flight Instructor.
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Name: Eric Odenbach
Position: Pilot
City: Eureka
Term End Date: 10/30/2024
Biography:
Appointed 2012.
Eric Odenbach was born in Aberdeen, SD on December 10, 1975. He is a 1994 graduate of Eureka High School, a 1998 graduate of Southeast Technical Institute with a degree in Civil Engineering, and a 2003 graduate of SDSU with a degree in Construction Management. Eric is president of Steadfast Farms L.L.C. and owns a pheasant hunting business named Greenway Guides. Eric and his wife, Kelly, have one daughter, Georgia, and live on their farm north of Eureka. Eric earned his private pilot certificate in 2012 in Florida. He currently owns and flies a 1966 Piper Comanche 260B. He is a member of AOPA, SDPA and ICS.
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Name: Gerald Rieber
Position: Pilot
City: Watertown
Term End Date: 10/30/2025
Biography:
Appointed 2020.
Dr. Gerald “Jerry” Rieber was raised in Sabin, MN. He enlisted in the US Air Force after graduating from high school and was stationed at Offutt AFB, NE, Osan AFB, South Korea, and Goodfellow AFB, TX. He graduated from Moorhead State University in 1993, then graduated University of Minnesota Medical School in 1997 before his Orthopaedic Surgery residency. He and his wife Tammy moved to Watertown, SD to begin his Orthopaedic practice at Glacial Lakes Orthopaedics in 2002. Jerry began flying while in the Air Force. He completed his private pilot certificate in 2016 through Lake Area Technical Institute. He obtained his instrument rating in 2019 and is working towards his commercial rating and multi engine endorsements. He currently owns and flies a Cessna T210M and a Cessna 150L. Jerry and his wife have 3 grown children. In his free time, he enjoys working on projects in his shop, snowmobiling, motorcycling, and spending time at the lake or in the Black Hills.
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Name: John Taylor
Position: Pilot
City: Sioux Falls
Term End Date: 10/30/2026
Biography:
John Taylor grew up in Sioux Falls, SD. He holds a B.A. in Economics (St. Olaf College, 2001) and a Juris Doctorate (University of South Dakota, 2006). After passing the South Dakota bar exam, John served as an active duty US Army Aviation Officer and CH-47 Chinook pilot from 2006-2014. He was stationed in Alabama, Alaska, and Kansas, and served two overseas combat tours (Pakistan, 2010; Afghanistan 2013-14). John left active duty in 2014 to open a law practice in Sioux Falls. He is a board member of the Sioux Falls Regional Airport Authority and licensed by the FAA as a CFI-I flight instructor, ATP helicopter pilot, and Airframe and Powerplant mechanic. John flies (and maintains) a small twin-engine Cessna airplane. Additionally, John is a member of the Lawyer-Pilot’s Bar Association and an AOPA Pilot Protection Services panel attorney. In his free time John enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, tinkering with airplanes, and most anything involving the outdoors.
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