Moonraker Asociates

Associates

Juan Maldonado
Senior Associate – Aviation Security.

Juan Maldonado has been an International Aviation Security professional for 18 years and carries a wealth of security expertise.

Mr. Maldonado is the former Assistant Director, Security & Facilitation Services at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Montreal, Canada. In this post, Mr. Maldonado was responsible for representing, leading and serving the airline industry with global security and facilitation issues. During his tenure he developed the IATA – Airport Security Assessment Program (I-ASAP). Under this program Mr. Maldonado led Security Mission Teams at international airports in Africa and Asia via formal invitation from the respective heads of civil aviation and airport authorities.

Prior to IATA Mr. Maldonado spent four years at JetBlue Airways’ New York headquarters. There he served as the Manager of Compliance for the Corporate Security Department. In that role, he was responsible for oversight and compliance with all US and foreign aviation security standards and regulations. His duties also required him to establish and manage the 24/7 system operations security desk, approve all security-training curricula, conduct corporate investigations, and perform as a security instructor to airport operation employees, ground security coordinators, pilots and flight attendants. Mr. Maldonado also led the JetBlue “Customs – Trade Partners Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)” initiative which is a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) industry partnership certification program.

Preceding JetBlue, Mr. Maldonado spent 12 years at United Parcel Service (UPS) where he progressively advanced in leadership positions within the Security Department. His UPS Security career started in 1991 at the company’s largest air hub operation located in Louisville, Kentucky. Ultimately he became the Americas Region Security Manager in Miami, Florida where he successfully managed the region’s diverse security issues.

Mr. Maldonado holds professional certificates in Cargo Security and Security Management Systems (SeMS) from the IATA Training and Development Institute. Mr. Maldonado majored in the Justice Administration B.Sc. program at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.

Mr. Maldonado currently resides in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Christopher Thomas
Senior Associate – Air Traffic Control & Aviation Security

Christopher Thomas has an extensive background spanning 21 years as an Air Traffic Controller, Aviation Security Consultant, and airline pilot. His over 12,000 hours logged flying a wide variety of aircraft, from single engine private planes to commercial airliners, gives him a comprehensive knowledge of performance capabilities and limitations an air traffic controller must consider when coordinating arrival and departure tracks.

Mr. Thomas has worked for the FAA as TRACON controller in Salt Lake City, Utah; West Palm Beach, Florida; and Savannah, Georgia. Major project include redesigning the airspace around Salt Lake City, consulting with commercial airline pilots, Hill Air Force Air Traffic personnel, and local, state and federal government agencies.

Currently a First Officer for JetBlue, he was chosen to add divert and alternate routes to the data base. He collaborated with the Airport Authority for each city, Crash & Fire Rescue, ATC and Fixed Base Operators to gather and synthesize data pertinent to A-320 and E-190 aircraft. His most recent project was coordinating plans for JetBlue to assume ramp control operations at Boston Airport. His design overhaul for ramp entry and reallocation of ramp space promises to drastically reduce delays and maximize efficiency.

Mr. Thomas served in the United States Air Force as Air Traffic Controller at Patrick AFB. He became the first Dual Certified Controller in the radar and tower facilities, and has maintained his Security Clearance throughout his career. He was also privileged to serve as Senior TRACON Controller during the first Space Shuttle Launch, working with the FAA, NASA, and other government agencies.

Certifications include Certified Tower Operator, Radar Approach/Departure Control certified in Level III, IV, and V TRACON Facilities.

Mr. Thomas presently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Raquel K. Steffes
Senior Associate – Strategy, Business Development& Marketing.

Raquel Steffes is a business development and strategy specialist. She is recognized for her acute ability for problem solving, strategy development, market planning and managing company growth at large corporations, entrepreneurial companies, and government entities. She has worked for Fortune 100 companies, utility companies, entrepreneurial ventures, the US Department of Defense and DC-based consulting firms.

Ms. Steffes earned a MBA from Lawrence Technological University and a BBA from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana. She also completed a Manager Development Program from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, NC and participated in several managerial training courses at the Ford Motor Company Training and Development Center, Dearborn, Michigan.

Ms. Steffes is owner of Roundtable Consulting, Inc.based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

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