Alaska Air Group has appointed Nathan Engel as its new Vice President of Maintenance Operations, following approval by the company’s board of directors. Engel will guide the long-term strategy and financial performance of Alaska’s maintenance operations, leading teams of technicians and maintenance specialists while ensuring high standards of safety and reliability across the fleet.
Engel brings 37 years of experience in aviation maintenance and engineering, with extensive leadership roles at both Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Over the past year, he has served as Horizon’s Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering. His earlier roles covered strategic and operational oversight of line and heavy maintenance, on-call support, maintenance control and quality control. His career also includes positions at Amazon and Hawaiian Airlines, and he is a veteran of the United States Air Force.
Alaska Air Group has also created a new senior role: Vice President of Technical Operations. John Wiitala will step into the position, assuming responsibility for engineering, quality systems and material management as the airline continues strengthening its operational resilience.
At Horizon Air, Baron Converse will succeed Engel as Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering. He will lead the long-term strategy and daily operational execution of the regional carrier’s maintenance organisation. His remit includes line maintenance, airframe, component and engine maintenance, quality assurance, maintenance planning, engineering and reliability, fleet projects, and stores and distribution.
Converse, who is marking more than 30 years with Horizon, joined the airline in 1994 as an airframe and powerplant technician. Before his promotion, he served as managing director of maintenance operations and earlier as director of line maintenance and planning.
