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Clif Whitten

Air Traffic Controllers
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  1. It is my great pleasure to announce the selection of Joshua Nunn (NU) as the next Air Traffic Manager of ZBW. Since joining BVA in January 2018, Josh has displayed exceptional dedication and leadership. He began his staff journey as an ATC training mentor in the same year and quickly advanced to become the Events Coordinator in January 2019. Following this, he served as my Deputy, demonstrating passion, skill and commitment to the betterment of our community. Two years ago, Josh took over as our Training Administrator, continuing the challenging work posed by the pandemic and the resulting growth of our organization. His ability to navigate these obstacles with resilience and innovation has been commendable. I am confident that Josh will continue to uphold BVA's values with pride, integrity, and ingenuity in his new role as Air Traffic Manager. I would like to express my gratitude to the members of our community, leaders from neighboring ARTCCs, and Division staff for their participation in the screening, interviewing, and selection process. As I have said in the past, I am continually inspired by the quantity and quality of talented individuals who are willing to step up to volunteer for leadership positions in our organization. This was no exception; thank you to all who applied. Josh’s official appointment as Air Traffic Manager will be effective at 0001z on December 1st, 2023. Please join me in congratulating him on this well-deserved achievement. I have no doubt that under his guidance, BVA will continue to thrive and excel. The official VATUSA announcement can be viewed here
  2. Team Boston, As many of you are aware, this year will mark the conclusion of my time as a member of the Administration Team. Serving as an administrator within this organization over the past 8 years has been an incredible honor and privilege. When I first joined ZBW in 2008, I could never have foreseen the profound impact this organization would have on my life. I am deeply grateful for the experiences and enduring friendships that have emerged from this journey. My departure from the A-Team does not signify my departure from BVA. I am committed to remaining an active part of the community as both a pilot and controller, with a renewed focus on dedicating more time to these roles. The Air Traffic Manager position is posted and pinned in this thread. The A-Team is working diligently to adhere to an ambitious timeline for hiring and onboarding my successor, with the target start date of December 1st. Applications are due by September 2nd. In the interim, I will continue to fulfill my responsibilities to the fullest extent. As we move through the hiring process, we will be reaching out to our membership for volunteers who wish to participate in this pivotal selection process. Please keep an eye out for forthcoming announcements. Once again, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every member of our community. It is your unwavering dedication that truly defines BVA as an exceptional organization. I am immensely proud to have had the privilege of leading you over the past 5 years. Warmest regards, Clif Whitten (WN)
  3. Position Posting – Air Traffic Manager Purpose Boston ARTCC (ZBW) is seeking an Air Traffic Manager (ATM), who will provide effective management and leadership of the ZBW air traffic control program. The expected start date for this position is 1 December 2023. Key Accountabilities ● Fulfill the role of ARTCC Administrator, actively participating in bi-monthly meetings ● Collaborate closely with ARTCC staff to ensure transparent and effective communication with the membership ● Establish and define the duties of the Deputy Air Traffic Manager and Training Administrator ● Oversee the ZBW air traffic control training program, events, social media, and data services/facilities infrastructure ● Effectively oversee and manage the air traffic control roster ● Develop and implement policies, air traffic control standard operating procedures, and letters of agreement ● Address disciplinary situations with fairness and professionalism, upholding the integrity of the organization ● Maintain a strong online presence through various platforms to foster community engagement and facilitate information dissemination ● Serve as ZBW's ambassador at in-person events, promoting the organization’s mission and values ● Actively participate as the organization’s representative to VATUSA, attending requisite meetings to remain informed about division matters, policies, and development Requirements ● VATSIM C1 rating or higher ● Active member on the VATSIM network in good standing ● No significant disciplinary record or history of unprofessional behavior ● Capable of working well in team-oriented environment ● Proficient in independent work, demonstrating the capacity to operate with minimal direct supervision ● Strong knowledge of United States National Airspace System ● Strong knowledge of FAA Order 7110.65 ● Must have excellent written and oral communication skills Preferred Skills ● Real-world management or leadership experience ● Prior Staff or Administration experience ● Prior ATC Mentor/Instructor experience ● Teaching/Education experience (on or off VATSIM) ● Possess a high degree of energy and commitment appropriate to the requirements of the position ● Real world aviation/pilot experience ● Familiarity with ZBW ATC training program, policies, etc. ● Demonstrates at a minimum the qualities of understanding, patience, maturity, and when necessary, restraint How to Apply Only those who understand the requirements and can make the appropriate commitment should consider applying to this position. Candidates can expect an initial evaluation of their application after which they may be contacted for a comprehensive interview. Applicants must provide a letter of application and a “virtual” resume. The letter of application should summarize the applicant's reasons for wanting to lead the ZBW ARTCC, compelling evidence to show how the position requirements are met, and how the function will thrive under the applicant's leadership. Please also include your name, active email address, CID, current ARTCC, current rating, and any prior experience. Your virtual resume should consist of all prior experience related to ZBW/VATSIM along with any real-world experience you feel is applicable. External candidates should emphasize their knowledge of ZBW’s operations, and how their experience from other ARTCCs will benefit our pilot and ATC organizations. Applications should be submitted to Brandon Wening, Deputy Division Director ATS ([email protected]). The application deadline is 2 September 2023. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  4. Team Boston, Please join me in welcoming Braden Kearney (KY) as our new Facility Engineer. Braden has been a ZBW controller since early in 2020 and joined our training staff as a Mentor late last year. With the upcoming changes to controller technology, we're looking forward to seeing Braden work his magic! Congratulations, Braden! Clif
  5. Position Posting – Facility Engineer Purpose Boston Virtual ARTCC (BVA) is currently seeking a Facility Engineer to provide effective management and leadership of the BVA Air Traffic Control facility file development program. Key Accountabilities Reports to BVA Air Traffic Manager Develops, maintains, and manages ARTCC facilities infrastructure, including sector files, alias files, position files, VRC/vSTARS/vERAM/CRC files, vATIS, the Audio for VATSIM database, and other related infrastructure. Assists Training Administrator with maintenance of training files Updates and maintains facility’s airports, charts, and procedures database / web pages Responds quickly to changing facility update requirements Reviews and implements feedback on facility files and infrastructure from BVA members Liaises with other members of the Administration Team to coordinate file releases with other required changes (e.g., SOP or document changes) Maintains a high online presence Requirements VATSIM S2 rating or higher Active member of the network in good standing with a clean history Capable of working well in team-oriented environment Familiar with sector file design methodologies and utilities Familiar with tools such as VRC, vSTARS, vERAM, and the tools used to create the files for these software platforms (training is provided) Excellent written and oral communication skills Preferred Skills VATSIM S3 rating or higher Demonstrated experience developing and/or maintaining facilities/sector files Leadership, managerial, or supervisory experience Familiar with TowerTrainer and Euroscope Familiar with ZBW airspace and procedures Demonstrated experience in website design and/or maintenance How to Apply Applicants must provide a letter of application, including a resume to include examples of previous work, if applicable. Letter of application should summarize the applicant's reasons for wanting to join BVA Staff, compelling evidence to show how the position requirements are met, and how the function will thrive under the applicant's leadership. Applications should be submitted to Clifton Whitten, Air Traffic Manager ([email protected]). Application deadline is 4 October 2022. ARTCC leadership may choose to close the position opening early should an eminently qualified candidate apply and be selected.
  6. Team Boston, Please join me in congratulating Collin Koldoff (KF) on his appointment to the position of Webmaster. Collin has been a BVA member since 2018, serving as an ATC Mentor since 2020, and as Facility Engineer and member of the Web Team since 2021. Collin’s knowledge of our technology infrastructure and proven work on a multitude of projects made him the obvious choice to succeed Szymon. I would like to thank everyone who applied for the Webmaster position. I am continually impressed with the membership of this organization, and their willingness to contribute to the greater community. I am also pleased to report that outgoing Webmaster, Szymon Puzdrowski, has agreed to remain as part of the Web Team and will be working on various special projects throughout the next year. (Plus he’s the only A-Team member who can remember my coffee order). Thank you, PI! Congratulations, Collin! We know you will do great things in your new role. Clif
  7. Position Posting – Webmaster Purpose The Boston Virtual ARTCC (BVA) is currently seeking a Webmaster who will provide effective management and leadership of the ARTCC’s data services, including but not limited to web content and delivery, web services, email systems, voice systems, 3rd party integrations and data storage systems. Key Accountabilities Reports to BVA Air Traffic Manager and Community Manager Manages the development of several BVA websites and services for both the controller and pilot community Supports other staff members in their use of BVA’s social media and 3rd party communication platforms including Discord, Facebook, Twitter, TeamSpeak, etc. Maintains and ensures healthy state of BVA’s servers including backups and updates Responds quickly to web site and data system needs Develops and implements policies and procedures for operation and maintenance of the ARTCC’s web and data systems Maintains a high online presence Works within and manages an established Web Team Performers other duties as assigned by ATM/DATM/TA/CM Functions as an Administrator and attends bi-monthly meetings Requirements Must be an active member of the VATSIM network, in good standing, with a clean history and no previous incidence of misuse of technology (hacking, cracking, etc.) Capable of working in and leading a team of web development professionals Must be proficient with modern web programming languages and web technologies Must have excellent written and oral communication skills Preferred Skills Full stack development experience Experience with the following: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, PHP 7.1+, SQL, Git Laravel, CodeIgniter, Handlebars.js, Bootstrap Invision Community forum engine jQuery, Composer, Node.JS, NPM, Webpack, Discord.js Linux (Debian), Nginx, MySQL, Redis, Cron, Bash REST APIs, VATSIM SSO, VATUSA APIs, Cloudflare, G Suite, Adobe Photoshop, GitHub Ability to fully manage a VPS How to Apply Only those who understand the requirements and can make the appropriate commitment should consider applying. Candidates can expect an initial evaluation of their application after which they may be contacted for a comprehensive interview. Applicant must provide a letter of application, a resume, and a letter of recommendation from a manager or a peer with whom the applicant worked with in a relevant position. The letter of application should summarize the applicant’s reasons for wanting to join the BVA Administration Team, compelling evidence to show how the position requirements are met, and how the function will thrive under the applicant’s leadership. Please also include your name, CID, current ARTCC, current rating, and any prior experience. Applications should be submitted to Clifton Whitten, Air Traffic Manager ([email protected]). Application deadline is 14 August 2022. ARTCC leadership may choose to close the position opening early should an eminently qualified candidate apply and be selected.
  8. Please join me in offering our sincere appreciation and gratitude to our outgoing Webmaster, Szymon Puzdrowski (PI). Despite our repeated attempts at coercion bribery blackmail convincing PI to sell his soul hang around for another 5 years, he's stepping back to dedicate more time to personal and professional endeavors. PI's contributions to this community over his 5 years tenure are simply too many to list. Suffice to say that it is no exaggeration when I tell you that his work has completely transformed our web services. In addition to his forward facing work, PI has worked in the background to form a web services team that will carry forward his legacy, a team which he has graciously agreed to remain an active part of during the transition. PI will remain in his position until his successor is named. Applications are currently open.
  9. I am pleased to announce the appointment of Collin Koldoff to the position of Facility Engineer. Collin joined VATSIM in 2017, transferring into BVA as a controller in 2018. He has been a member of the training staff since 2020. Outside of the simulation world, Collin is pursuing his Private Pilot's License. Collin is also studying for his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and using his knowledge to develop software for BVA and the VATSIM network. Some of Collin's recent projects are a new ATC Training client and a tool for monitoring airport Runway Visibility Range. In addition to his responsibilities as FE, Collin will continue to work as part of our Web Services Team. Congratulation on your appointment and welcome to the Administration Team!
  10. Please join me in congratulating Nathan Rankin (RI) on his promotion to Deputy Air Traffic Manager. Nathan served as our Facility Engineer since 2019, is a member of the web team, and is an Instructor on the training staff. Welcome to your new position!
  11. Position Posting – Deputy Air Traffic Manager Purpose The Boston Virtual ARTCC (BVA) is currently seeking a Deputy Air Traffic Manager (DATM) who will provide effective management and leadership of the BVA ATC roster, training programs, and more. Key Accountabilities ● Reports to BVA Air Traffic Manager ● Assists in management of ARTCC ATC Roster, Forums, etc. ● Assists in development of ARTCC SOPs, LOAs, policies, and more ● Maintain a high online presence ● Other duties as assigned by ATM ● Functions as an Administrator and attends bi-monthly meetings Requirements ● C1 rating or higher ● Must be an active member on the network in good standing with a clean history ● Capable of working well in team-oriented environment ● Strong knowledge of VATSIM/US ATC system ● Strong knowledge of FAA Order 7110.65 ● Must have excellent written and oral communication skills Preferred Skills ● Prior ATC Mentor/Instructor experience ● Teaching/Education experience (on or off VATSIM) ● Leadership, managerial, or supervisory experience ● Real world aviation/pilot experience ● Familiarity with the Boston Virtual ARTCC ATC training program, policies, etc. ● Demonstrates at a minimum the qualities of understanding, patience, maturity, and when necessary, restraint How to Apply Only those who understand the requirements and can make the appropriate commitment should consider applying. Candidates can expect an initial evaluation of their application after which they may be contacted for a comprehensive interview. Applicant must provide a letter of application, a resume, and a letter of recommendation from a current or previous Air Traffic Manager, Deputy Air Traffic Manager, or Training Administrator. The letter of application should summarize the applicant's reasons for wanting to join the BVA Administration Team, compelling evidence to show how the position requirements are met, and how the function will thrive under the applicant's leadership. Please also include your name, CID, current ARTCC, current rating, and any prior experience. Applications should be submitted to Clifton Whitten, Air Traffic Manager ([email protected]). Application deadline is 22 October 2021. ARTCC leadership may choose to close the position opening early should an eminently qualified candidate apply and be selected.
  12. I am pleased to announce that Joshua Nunn (NU) has been selected to serve as BVA’s Training Administrator. Josh has served on the Administration Team both as my Deputy and as our Events Coordinator. He has been a member of the training staff since 2018, earning his Instructor rating early in 2020. Josh has big shoes to fill with the departure of outgoing TA Jamsheed Lovelace, but we know he will rise to the challenge. Congratulations, Josh! Thank you for your continued dedication to the BVA Community.
  13. Position Posting – Training Administrator Boston Virtual ARTCC Purpose ZBW is currently seeking a Training Administrator who will provide compelling training capability and effective management and leadership of the ZBW ATC training program. Key Accountabilities ● Report to Air Traffic Manager and VATUSA Division Training Manager ● Manage and lead the training program to make it effective and efficient for all ARTCC controllers ● Maintain an adequate staff of instructors and mentors to meet ARTCC training needs ● Update and maintain training website material and certification system ● Develop and implement training policies, SOPs, and more ● Oversee and manage student assignments to training staff ● Perform duties as a staff Instructor ● Maintain a high online presence ● Other duties as assigned by ATM/DATM/VATUSA Division Training Manager ● Function as an Administrator and attends bi-monthly meetings Requirements ● C1 rating or higher ● Active member on the network in good standing without recent disciplinary history ● Capable of working well in team-oriented environment ● Strong knowledge of VATSIM/US ATC system ● Strong knowledge of FAA Order 7110.65 ● Excellent written and oral communication skills ● Able to work with students in a calm and respectful manner ● Access to and strong ability with Microsoft Office suite, including PowerPoint and Word Preferred Skills ● Prior ATC Mentor/Instructor experience ● Teaching/Education experience (on or off VATSIM) ● Leadership, managerial, or supervisory experience ● Real world aviation/pilot experience ● Familiarity with the Boston Virtual ARTCC training program/system How to Apply Interested candidates should be aware that this is a senior level administrative position and not for the inexperienced. The workload is considerable and should not be taken lightly. The incumbent should expect to dedicate between 6 and 8 hours weekly to ARTCC business. Only those who understand the requirements and can make the appropriate commitment should consider applying. Candidates can expect an initial evaluation of their application after which they may be contacted for a comprehensive interview. Prospective applicants shall submit a letter of application, which provides answers to the following questions: Why are you interested in this position? How will you balance the time commitment required for administrative activities with any training and/or controlling you currently do on the network? What’s one thing about yourself that we should know, but don’t already know? What do you imagine being part of ARTCC senior staff is like? What do you wish to get out of the role you have applied to? The letter of application shall also include your name, CID, and current VATSIM rating. The letter of application shall not exceed 1 page. Applications should be submitted to Clif Whitten, Air Traffic Manager ([email protected]) by September 4, 2021. Following the receipt of your application, successful candidates will be provided with a copy of our General SOP in Microsoft Word format. You will be asked to update this document with a fictitious procedural change. Your work on this document will be discussed during an interview with the Administration Team.
  14. Please join me in welcoming Cameron Peterson (PS) as BVAs newest Events Coordinator. Cam joined us early in 2019 and joined the training staff as a mentor a year ago. Cam has been helping in the background with event planning for some time. Welcome aboard!
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