Advisor
Captain Ed Folsom

Ed Folsom currently is a 757/767 Captain and has been a United Airlines Pilot since 1989 with over 10,000 hours flight time, and over 2,250 hours of military flight time.   He has also held qualifications as 727 Second Officer, 737 First Officer, 757/767 First Officer, 747-400 First Officer, 727 Captain, A320 Captain, and is currently as 757/767 Captain. 

After 9/11, Captain Folsom was a key leader in developing aviation security enhancements, including arming airline pilots.  As the founder of the political action committee, Citizens for Aviation Security, Ed was a leader in the fight for the eventual passage of the Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act of 2002.  In 2003, he was appointed Federal Flight Deck Officer program project team leader for the Airline Pilots Association International (ALPA), which represents 60,000 airline pilots and 40 airlines nationwide. He was also the ALPA project leader for commercial counter-MANPADS missile defensive systems.  In January 2005 Ed was elected as the Chairman for the United Airline pilot's Security Committee.  In 2006 Ed was elected to represent the 40 ALPA Carriers as National Security Council Chairman.

As the Security Committee Chairman, Captain Folsom has been responsible for three key security system enhancements: United's security reporting system is an innovative online solution to track and respond to security, safety and operational incidents; the Security Incident Review Committee (SIRC) is a joint ALPA/United working group that develops integrated security solutions in compliance to TSA regulatory requirements; and has managed a cross-division team that developed and implemented new cockpit access procedures which the TSA enthusiastically endorsed.  Ed's team also produced a training video to support the new procedures, which has been acclaimed as setting a new standard for commercial aviation security procedures.

He was selected by United Airlines and ALPA (Airline Pilots Association) to serve as Security Training Instructor in 2002 and Fuel Efficiency program instructor in 2004; and led joint United/ALPA/AFA Recurrent Security Training Program development team in 2005.

Captain Folsom is acknowledged as the aviation industry's foremost advocate for secondary barriers and flight deck access procedures.  He is currently working with industry leaders to develop national standards for access procedures as well as secondary barriers- two keys to an integrated cockpit-cabin security system.

As a 1980 distinguished military graduate of the US Air Force Academy, Captain Folsom held numerous leadership positions held as cadet, including S.E.R.E. (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) Vice Commander, Cadet First Sergeant and Cadet Squadron Commander.   He also holds a Master of Arts degree in Management from Webster University.

His active duty experience includes Ground and Air Forward Air Controller in European theater; Top Graduate of Fighter Lead In School; Top Gun/Top Graduate of A-10 Fighter upgrade course; A-10 Close Air Support Fighter 2 Ship and 4 Ship Flight Leader; A-10 Instructor Pilot; Squadron and Wing Staff; Chief of Flight Training, Life Support Division; USAFR Combat Search and Rescue Pilot, HH-60G Pavehawk; Admissions Liaison Officer, Deputy Director and Director of Area 54, supervising 60+ Officers in Northern California. 

Captain Folsom also has extensive experience in the fields of Close Air Support, Forward Air Control Operations, civil and combat Search and Rescue tactics.  He served in command and supervisory positions as Cadet, Company Grade Officer and Field Grade Officer; and retired as Lt. Colonel, USAFR in 2004.

Advisor
First Officer Neil Frey

First Officer Neil Frey is a pilot for a major U.S. all-cargo airline.  A former U.S. Marine, Neil represents his fellow pilots at Teamsters 1224 in both the security and legislative affairs arena.

He is a former Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) representative, and as of July 2007, has been elected as CAPA's Vice President.  Neil serves PCSG as its Director of Operational Security.

Neil has served on numerous TSA Working Groups and Implementation Teams.  He has created several projects that have generated positive results for improved security.  Neil serves as an outstanding security asset to PCSG, and our Nation.

Advisor
First Officer John Persad

John Persad is a First Officer/International Relief Officer on the B-757/767 aircraft for a major cargo airline. He is a former US Army Pilot qualified in both Rotary and Fixed Wing aircraft. He has operated in many different countries, and has gained much experience during his 15 years of diverse service to the nation.

John's military experience includes Military Intelligence Pilot, Army Aviation Safety Officer/Accident Investigator, Electronic Warfare Officer, Flight Operations Officer, Training Officer, Installation Security Manager, and Battalion Intelligence Officer. He participated in Security Operation Desert Focus, Operation Northern Watch and other deployments worldwide.

John's assignments have included the US Army Rapid Reaction Force, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Unit, Ft Bragg, US Army Europe, Turkey, Saudi-Arabia, Yugoslavia, Bosnia, Tirana, Hungary, and Sarajevo.

John has advanced degrees in Business Administration, and Technical Management. He also has an American Bar Approved Paralegal Certification. His civilian aviation credentials include an Airline Transport Pilot License, Flight Engineer License, and Commercial license for Helicopters and Airplanes, with a Boeing 757/767 type rating.

John is of East Indian decent. His father was from Jamaica and served in the Royal Air Force during WWII, and his mother was from British Guyana. John's wife is from Panama and a Social Worker and US Army Veteran who served during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. They have two sons, one of whom is serving in the US Army.

John (and his family) has served his country, and he is now proud to be part of an organization which tries to effect change and strengthen our nation's skies.

European Liaison
Neil Gabriel DeSousa

Neil Gabriel De Sousa is a formally trained writer, filmmaker, and photographer. He is also a strategic business conference researcher/developer/producer based between North America and Europe.

Dedicated and committed to the collective goal of enhancing global aviation passenger-cargo security/safety standards, processes and practices, Neil intensively researches, develops and subsequently  produces  what  has  become a continuing  series of

high-level strategic "by invitation only" global aviation security and safety conferences. These specialized and focused conferences continue to be supported and attended by the world's senior airline/airport industry executive leadership, the airline pilots, the aircraft manufacturers, key legislators/policy makers, leading government agencies, counterterrorism specialists, and the world's most advanced technology developers who continue to meet/network, discuss and explore the developments, results, challenges and issues. These conferences have also been sponsored by some of the most notable organizations.

Neil is dedicated to the communication business of essential industry information relay, and therefore believes that focused knowledge-sharing, global aviation industry education/training, global aviation industry collaboration and integration, and the necessary establishment of strategic international synergies/relationships across multiple human, technical and machine elements, are the key routes to help further attain positive results in the development of a safer and more secure global air transportation system.

Neil has lived, schooled and traveled all over the world. He is a dual citizen of Canada and Britain.

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