Tim Balkin has a background in Corporate Finance and Accounting, and spent nearly 29 years working for Moog, twenty of which were as Treasurer. Tim is a native Western New Yorker, earning his undergraduate degree from Canisius University and his MBA from the Executive Program at the University at Buffalo. Tim has an avid interest in both history and aerospace, and thinks it important the many significant contributions made by people and organizations associated with the aerospace industry in Western New York be preserved and shared with the wider community.

Judge Caruso earned his B.A. from Ohio University in 1966. He received his J.D. from the University of Buffalo Law School in 1969, and he earned an air and space law certificate from the McGill University Institute of Air and Space Law in 1970. Before serving on the NYS Supreme Court, Judge Caruso served as the Niagara County Attorney and as the agency counselor for the  Niagra County Industrial Development Agency.

Katie Clough joined the Niagara Aerospace Museum in 2023 and serves as the board’s secretary. Katie is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and is a Senior Manager at Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C. in their Assurance and Advisory Practice, specializing in the not-for-profit industry. Katie is committed to preserving Western New York’s aerospace history.

Eric Coombs has served as Treasurer for the Niagara Aerospace Museum since 2021. Eric graduated from Canisius University in 2022 with dual degrees in Accounting and Finance, as well as an MBA in Accounting. In 2024, Eric completed the requirements for the CPA and gained his license. Eric has professional experience in public accounting providing audits and tax returns for various mid- to large-sized companies. Eric has since moved into the private sector as an internal auditor. In his free time, Eric enjoys spending time outdoors, especially gardening and fishing.

Don has volunteered with the Niagara Aerospace Museum in various capacities since 2010. He serves as the Chief Service Officer for a SUNY organization that provides IT services for most of the SUNY campuses across New York State. He previously worked with various contractors for NASA and the Department of Defense on military and space programs.  Don combines his interests in aviation, aerospace, and local history with his background in strategic planning, digital transformation, and team building to help the museum meet its mission

Trek is an attorney with strong skills in legal and policy research, with a passion for Constitutional and appellate law. Before joining the City of Buffalo, Trek was a lawyer for the Western New York Law Center and served on the West Seneca School Board. In 2025, he was recognized in Buffalo Business First’s 30 Under 30.

Laurrie has been the superintendent of the Niagara Falls City School District since 2016. In a 40-year career, Laurrie taught elementary & special education, served as asst. principal of two schools, chief educational admin. of Niagara Falls High School, & deputy superintendent. Laurrie has received dozens of honors Including: Niagara USA Chamber 2023 Businessperson of the Year, Police Athletic League Sportsperson of the Decade, the Leadership Niagara Distinguished Alumni Award, Niagara University Educator of the Year, & Dr. Gerald E. DeMauro Award.

Lou was co-owner of Calspan Corporation and served in various company management positions, including President, CEO, and Chairman. Prior, he served as an engineering test pilot during numerous flight test programs, and for decades provided flight instruction at several test pilot schools. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from the US Naval Academy and a Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from MIT. After graduation from the Naval Academy, Lou flew A-6 Intruders, accumulating over 250 carrier landings. Following his active duty service, he flew F-4 and F-16 fighter aircraft for the NY Air National Guard at Niagara Falls. He retired from service as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Kathryn Nowicki is an executive director in the Aerospace and Defense industry with over 25 years serving in Engineering and Operations leadership roles at global aerospace companies.  A graduate of the University at Buffalo in Mechanical Engineering and University of Washington with an MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics, she currently is the Director of Knowledge Management at Moog in East Aurora.

Allison O’Connor has been an ardent supporter and volunteer for the museum since 2004. She is an Aerospace Engineer/Rocket Scientist and is passionate about Space, Aviation, and preserving this rich history in the WNY area. Allison has worked for NASA, Calspan, Moog and now Arcfield.  She is an AIAA Associate Fellow and active with SWE (Society of Women Engineers), WIA (Women in Aerospace), AIAA, Aero Club of Buffalo and the UB School of Engineering where she mentors and coaches young engineers.

Ron Plants is a reporter at WGRZ-TV in Buffalo, NY who handles general assignment reporting for Channel 2. He is originally from suburban Philadelphia and is a Temple University graduate. But he now considers Western New York as his home. Ron has worked for a CBS radio station in Philadelphia and then started on the TV side in Harrisburg, Pa. He also worked in Rochester at WHEC-TV before making that move to Buffalo. Ron is an aerospace history enthusiast and amateur historian.

Mark joined Moog in 1984 and held a variety of Senior Program Management positions in Moog’s Aircraft Group. In 1992, he became General Manager of Esprit Technology (an acquired Moog subsidiary) before his 1995 appointment as Director, New Business Development for the Aircraft Group. Subsequently, Mark became the Director, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, in 2002. Mark was appointed Vice President, Commercial and Military Aircraft Aftermarket in 2007, prior to assuming the role of Vice President, Business Unit Integration in 2011. In 2015, he became President of Moog’s Aircraft Group. Mark was appointed EVP and Chief Operating Officer of Moog, Inc. in 2023. He retired from Moog in 2025 after 40 years with the company. Prior to joining Moog, Mark worked at Calspan from 1981 through 1984. Mark’s education includes the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Masters degree in Business Administration from Canisius University.

Jim retired in 2024 from Moog where he started in 1984. Most recently, he was the Aerospace and Defense PLM Architect and Strategist starting the product lifecycle management (PLM) program, working with additive manufacturing, and Blockchain projects at Space and Defense and Aircraft Groups. Jim was a co-inventor of several blockchain patents related to the provenance of additively manufactured parts and coined the term VeriPart™. Before this Jim was Group Vice President and Chief Information Officer for 13 years. Preceding this he was Section head of Design Engineering for 5 years where he worked on fight hardware for the Space Station and numerous satellite propulsion programs. Additionally, he served as a Design Engineer for 6 years working, on fight hardware for the Space Shuttle, numerous satellite propulsion programs, missiles, and aircraft.

Don is a podcast and documentary host. He is the current host of the American History Hit podcast as well as the host and narrator of Mysteries at the Museum, Beyond the Unknown, Dark Tales with Don Wildman, and Buried Worlds with Don Wildman on the Travel Channel. He also hosted and narrated Travel Channel’s Weird Travels, Off Limits, and Monumental Mysteries. Don is a history enthusiast with a love of aviation and space exploration.