Angelo Collins has assumed the role of Executive Director of the Vertical Flight Society (VFS) on June 1, 2023. Collins was selected in March to lead the non-profit technical organization, founded in 1943 as the American Helicopter Society, after an extensive executive search that began last December. He is only the seventh leader in the organization's 80-year history.
In the May/June issue of Vertiflite, Collins shared some of his background and vision for VFS:
Get to Know Your New Executive Director
By Angelo Collins, VFS Executive Director
After learning of Mike’s plans to step down as Executive Director of the Vertical Flight Society, I, like many of you, felt a looming sense of uncertainty. Although we all share a passion for VTOL technology, Mike’s knowledge of the Society’s history, goals, successes, failures and everything in between is unmatched. It was hard to accept his decision, but I can confidently say there is a shared sense of gratitude for his service to the advancement of vertical flight. Ever since Mike first took on the role of Managing Editor of Vertiflite in 1999, this Society saw a beneficial momentum shift that only continued to improve during his 12 years as the Executive Director. Mike made VFS a healthier and more vibrant organization, primed for even greater success in the future. I felt emboldened to answer the call and am humbled to have been selected as the seventh Executive Director of the Society in its 80-year history.
I understand that the responsibilities, commitments and (at times) the burdens that accompany this role present unique challenges that require the Executive Director’s full attention; it is not just a job, but a total commitment, and I feel equipped to ensure that VFS continues to thrive while I am at its helm.
I have been a proud member of VFS since 2008, with one of my most fond memories as the Administrative Chair of the Transformative Vertical Flight (TVF) Workshop in 2014. This was the world’s first meeting of the emerging electric VTOL pioneers and is now held annually as the VFS eVTOL Symposium. Among various publications, I received the then-AHS best paper award with Dr. Gordon Leishman in the Forum 67 History Session for our paper, “The Aeronautical Exploits of Jacob Ellehammer.”
I am a proud native of the Boston, Massachusetts, area but I have lived and worked in Arlington, Virginia, for the past 15 years, where I reside with my wife Nicole, daughters Camila and Aria, and son Loukas.
While in Arlington, I have engaged with several local nonprofits and community organizations. I served as the president of our homeowners association (HOA), as an executive board member of our neighborhood civic associations, and on the Arlington County Parks and Recreation Commission. I also volunteer my time as a Red Coat for the Arlington County Chapter of the Knights of Columbus (KoC), and as a member of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Society (AHEPA), in affiliation with the Greek Orthodox Church.
As Executive Director of VFS, you can expect much of the same; my commitment to ensure this international technical society for engineers, scientists and others working to advance vertical flight technology continues to thrive. By no means a definitive list, but the following topics stand out as I begin my tenure:
- Students: University participation and their research and contributions are a staple of VFS. Student engagement, attendance at the Forum and other events along with their participation will be a priority for me during my tenure.
- Advanced Rotorcraft: Never before have so many exciting new capabilities been poised for introduction to operational military and civil rotorcraft. This is a core tenet of VFS.
- Advanced Air Mobility: I am especially excited about the growth we have seen in the eVTOL/AAM segment, and VFS will continue to foster and advocate for this technology.
- Engaging the Public: Whether it be through social media or other outlets, good publicity and informative content inspires future engineers and advocates for vertical flight. High visibility and low-cost content, such as images and video content, can help engage the community.
- The Business of VFS: Like all non-profits, a balanced budget and sound financial decisions are critical to the Society’s health. Any changes or updates to the way we operate, or functions we execute as a Society will be evaluated and tracked as an independent project. Costs, risks and considerations for available funding and labor resources will be evaluated before any project is initiated. As an example, digitizing and cataloging our extensive library of vertical flight media is appealing, but may only be viable through a grant and/or volunteer initiatives.
I would love to discuss your relationship with VFS and ideas you would like us to consider in the future. Contact me to tell me what you think.
Together, through our commitment to the Vertical Flight Society, we can continue to make great strides in the advancement of vertical flight.
Posted June 1, 2023