ENTERPRISE, Florida — Citation Jet Pilots (CJP), the owner/pilot organization for the Cessna Citation series of jet aircraft, has named Lt. Col. Jon “Huggy” Huggins as the new Executive Director of the organization.
“I am very appreciative of this opportunity to join CJP,” Huggins said. “Every member I’ve met is extremely passionate about aviation, and I look forward to sharing our mutual experiences and continuing to build CJP into an even greater organization that serves the CJP members and the aviation community as a whole.”
Huggins joins the CJP leadership team following a 29-year military career in the U.S. Air Force, where he accrued more than 7,000 hours of flight time as an instructor/evaluator pilot on the Lockheed U-2, Northrop T-38 Talon, and King Air 350ER. That includes 745 hours in combat conditions, flying reconnaissance missions over the Middle East, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Afghanistan.
For the past 12 years, Huggins served as Chief Pilot of the U-2 training squadron and as Director of Recruiting & Acceptance, where he was responsible for pilot selection and hiring in the U-2 program. In addition to his time in the armed forces, Huggins also served as a Boeing 727 Flight Engineer and Line Check Airman for United Airlines.
“People like Jon don’t come along very often,” noted CJP Chairman Ed Turley. “He brings to CJP close to 30 years of management and leadership experience throughout general aviation, commercial airline, and the military. He has stood before young aviators and told them, ‘let’s hop in the U-2 up to 70,000 feet.'”
Turley noted that Huggins’ extensive and varied background would serve the organization well as CJP evolves its mission and membership programs to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse member base.
“CJP has roughly doubled in size over the past 30 months, and we are evolving to meet the growing needs of our expanding membership,” Turley explained. “It’s fortuitous that Jon was available to help us explore these new opportunities.”
Huggins frequently gives presentations about his time as a U-2 pilot and the history of the U-2 program, as well as single pilot resource management training. Since 2009, he has also produced and coordinated two major airshows, in addition to serving as a professional airshow announcer.
A graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Science, Huggins lives near Sacramento, Calif., with his wife, Linda, and their two children.
The Citation Jet Pilots Owner Pilot Association is the only member organization dedicated to the ownership and operation of the Cessna Citation family of jets. Open to anyone who owns, flies or supports a Citation, the organization offers educational, networking, and social benefits all with the common goal of helping each member get the most out of their Cessna Citation. An annual convention features educators and experts, aviation luminaries, as well opportunities for networking with Citation owners from around the world.
In addition, CJP is developing the Russ Meyer Library, which will be the Citation community’s most extensive depository of Citation knowledge, technical data and expertise. Finally, the CJP Hall of Honor, presented at the Annual Convention, recognizes the contributions of Cessna Citation heroes and legends. Past recipients are Cessna Chairman Emeritus Russ Meyer, Jr., and retired Citation design master and company leader Bruce Petermen.
For more information: CitationJetPilots.com