Faculty & Staff

Anthony Kruckeberg began his aviation career in 1993 as an Army Helicopter Mechanic. Anthony has 25 years of maintenance experience on the UH-60 A/L/M Blackhawk as well as UH-1 Huey, and AH-1 Cobra. Anthony attained his FAA Pilots rating while in the U.S. Army flight school program in 2003. Anthony was rated as a Pilot in the UH-1 Huey, TH-67 Creek, and Pilot-In-Command and Maintenance Test Pilot for the UH-60 A/L/M Blackhawk. Anthony served as the full-time Aviation Maintenance Officer for the Michigan Army National Guard in Grand Ledge, MI for 12 years. Upon leaving the military in 2018, Anthony became a full-time student at Michigan State University, attaining a B.A in History Education w/ honors, a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science w/ honors, and a minor in Political Science. Anthony currently holds the FAA General and Airframe Mechanic License, FAA Commercial Rotorcraft Helicopter License, and the FAA Commercial Instrument Helicopter License. Anthony is currently pursuing his M.A. in Education - P-12 School and Postsecondary Leadership. Anthony is currently the School Board President for Great Lakes Learning Academy, President of the Military Officer’s Association – Capital Chapter, President of the Soldiers and Family Readiness Group – Grand Ledge Armory, and Eaton County Veterans Court Mentor. His hobbies include his family, community service, traveling, and the Detroit Lions.

Prior to joining the Aviation Technology Program, Mindy Ray worked at Lansing Community College as an Academic Success Coach where the focus is providing support for Student Success. Mindy has a background in Social Services. She worked at several agencies in the Jackson area doing prevention work with school and court programs and doing home-based services. Prior to joining the LCC team, Mindy worked for almost 10 years coordinating services for people with special needs paroling from prison. After serving in the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic (A-10s), Mindy received a B.S. Degree in Social Science from Troy State University and a M.A. in Counseling from Spring Arbor University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Michigan and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC).

David Argo joined the Army in 1989 and retired in 2016. David worked on the OH-58C, CH-47D/F and UH-60 A/L/M aircraft. He was an enlisted standardization instructor on the UH-60. David completed three overseas deployments, two in Iraq and one in Kuwait. Upon retirement, he held the rank of Sergeant First Class and was a detachment First Sergeant. David has accumulated 2500 flight hours. David is a FAA-certificated Airframe and Powerplant mechanic.

Jerry Foy joined the Michigan National Guard in 1970, and in 1975 became an Aircraft Maintenance Technician for the Army Aviation Support Facility. Jerry spent an entire career working on military aircraft as a mechanic, quality control inspector, as well as a hazardous materials coordinator. He retired in 2006, as an aviation maintenance unit First Sergeant, and then worked at Barnes Aerospace. He is certificated by the FAA as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician and now serves as a Laboratory Assistant in the Lansing Community College Aviation Technology Program. One of Jerry’s favorite pastimes is restoring old cars.

Michael is a FAA Certified Airframe and Powerplant Technician. Michael completed the Aviation Maintenance program at LCC in 2012 and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Maintenance from Western Michigan University in 2016. After graduating from LCC, Michael worked for a small aviation maintenance facility working on single engine and light twin aircraft along with working for the Airlines out of Lansing Capitol City Airport. Michael then moved to working at Duncan Aviation in Battle Creek where he was an Avionics Modifications Technician. Working as an Avionics Technician has given him a drastic amount of experience in troubleshooting and testing various aircraft electrical systems.

Dustin Phelps graduated from the LCC Aviation Maintenance program in 2020. Immediately after graduation, he obtained his Airframe and Powerplant license. Shortly after graduating, he was employed at Williams International working in the repair station on turbine engines. His passion for teaching and helping students brought him back to the Lansing area where he works at a local general aviation shop when he is not at LCC.

Todd Cotter earned his FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic License in 1990, his pilot's license in 1992 and his maintenance Inspection Authorization in 2002. His aviation journey started at a young age as his father was a military and civilian aircraft mechanic and also a pilot. Todd joined the Michigan Army National Guard in 1981 and was trained as a helicopter mechanic. He served 27 years as a full-time mechanic as well as a flight crew member on many different Army helicopters. Todd owns and operates a small fixed base operation that manages and maintains a fleet of general aviation aircraft. He is a very active pilot and spends time flying a variety of airplanes. Todd also enjoys flying with his family.

Randy Foreback earned his FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic License in 1990. He began his aviation career in 1978 with the United States Marine Corps as an OV-10 Bronco engine mechanic/plane captain. Randy joined the Michigan Army National Guard in 1984 and was trained as a helicopter/engine mechanic. He served over 30 years as a full-time mechanic, enlisted standardization instructor, aircraft maintenance supervisor and a flight crew member on many different Army helicopters. Randy worked for eight years at a small fixed base operation that maintains a fleet of general aviation aircraft. He is also in the process of obtaining his private license.

Chris Long graduated from LCC’s Aviation Maintenance program and earned his Airframe and Powerplant License in 2011. Chris grew up around aviation and has attended EAA’s AirVenture annually. Beginning in 2009, Chris started working on WWII aircraft in maintenance and restoration. He then went to work for Boeing in Washington State before returning to Michigan in 2014 to work on corporate jet aircraft. Currently, he works at a jet engine manufacturer in Holt, MI, coordinating Quality Control efforts with fan blade production. Chris is also in the process of attaining his Private Pilot’s license in a tailwheel aircraft, and will be a third generation pilot once completed.

Jason Payne is a second generation FAA certificated A&P mechanic whose father was both a commercial pilot and helicopter mechanic. Jason graduated summa cum laude from LCC's aviation maintenance program in 2012. He is currently the shop foreman at a small fixed base maintenance facility specializing in general aviation single engine and light twin aircraft. Jason is currently studying to receive his Inspection Authorization rating. In addition to his life-long aviation background, he has 15 years of automotive maintenance and 8 years of industrial maintenance experience. In his free time, Jason enjoys fishing, camping kayaking and canoeing.

Richard Wallace is an FAA certified Aircraft Maintenance Technician who also holds an Inspection Authorization. He has over 30 years of experience working in the ever-changing aviation field. That experience includes four years in the United States Navy, 16 years in the United States Air Force, 17 years working for Lansing Community College as an Aircraft Mechanic / Inspector, and Instructor.

Darian Balser graduated from LCC’s Aviation Maintenance program with both his Airframe and Powerplant license in 2019. Upon graduation, Darian worked for Williams International as a light-gas turbine engine specialist in both the commercial and research divisions. He is excited to be back teaching the next generation of aircraft mechanics and is also pursuing a degree in computer-aided design and manufacturing engineering.

Paul Fancey started his career in aviation in 1974 when he was hired as a Glider Pilot Instructor with the Air Cadet League of Canada. In 1976 he graduated from Centennial College with a Certificate in Aircraft Maintenance. His first job was with DeHavilland Aircraft as an Aircraft Assembler for the newly designed Dash 7 aircraft. After acquiring his Aircraft Maintenance License he accepted the position of Director of Maintenance at Huron Aviation where he managed 5 company aircraft as well as 30 customer private aircraft. In 1980 he joined a corporate flight department and assisted in maintaining various aircraft throughout the past 36 years. In 2007 Paul graduated from the Devos Graduate School with an Executive MBA. He is currently the Director of Maintenance for a corporate flight department and acts as an adjunct instructor for Lansing Community College in the Aircraft Maintenance field. He maintains a Private Pilot and Glider Pilot license, Canadian AME License, A&P Certification along with an IA Certificate and is certified as a Level II Liquid Penetrant Inspector.

Stephen Foster earned his FAA Single-Engine and Multi-Engine Commercial Pilot Certificates in 1992 and is a former Army Paratrooper.  He was the top graduate of his Army Aircraft Structural Repairer Class in 2013 and became a full-time Aircraft Technician for the Michigan Army National Guard in 2015.  He earned his FAA Airframe and Powerplant Certificates in 2019.  In his leisure time, Stephen enjoys the outdoors, fishing, drawing, and painting.