Donald Duncan was the entrepreneurial founder of Duncan Aviation, and his vision laid the foundation for the company that still bears his name. Born in Clarinda, Iowa, he grew up with a passion for flight and a strong affinity for business.

In 1956, Duncan bought into a Beechcraft distributorship in Omaha, Nebraska, combining his love of aviation with sharp salesmanship. He sold many models—Bonanzas, Travel Airs, Barons, and Twin Beech aircraft—and soon expanded operations. In 1963, he opened a facility in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the new Lincoln Municipal Airport and secured rights as a Learjet distributor, further strengthening the company’s market position.

By 1967, Duncan relocated the headquarters to Lincoln and closed the Omaha location, entrusting day-to-day operations to his son J. Robert, while continuing to lead aircraft sales. His foresight included not only selling aircraft but supporting them fully over their life cycles—a philosophy that helped Duncan Aviation grow from a regional distributor into a diversified aviation services business.

Donald Duncan died unexpectedly in 1981. Today, his legacy lives on through a thriving company that remains family-owned and continues to innovate in aircraft maintenance, avionics, interiors, and more.

J. Robert Duncan is a visionary leader, pilot, and prominent figure in the aviation industry. Born in 1942, Robert is the son of Duncan Aviation's founder, Donald Duncan. Taking the reins of the family business in 1981, Robert was instrumental in growing Duncan Aviation from a small FBO and aircraft sales company into the world's largest family-owned maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility. Under his leadership, Duncan Aviation broadened its services, prioritized innovation, and emphasized the immeasurable value of our team members.

Robert’s vision helped drive the company's growth, emphasizing core values like integrity, optimism, opportunity, and a commitment to excellence. He was deeply invested in the culture at Duncan Aviation, fostering a close-knit, family-oriented atmosphere that extended to team members, customers, and vendors alike. His leadership style was both forward-thinking and grounded in a genuine concern for people, making him beloved by those who worked with him.

Robert and his wife, Karen, are advocates of the visual arts and Robert has served on numerous boards in the aviation industry, for the visual arts, and for various community and philanthropic organizations. He is the kind of man who inspires others to do their best.

Todd Duncan is the Chairman of the Board of Duncan Aviation, continuing the proud legacy of his grandfather, company founder Donald Duncan. Since assuming the role in 2007, Todd has guided the company through significant growth while maintaining its family-owned values and culture of excellence.

A lifelong aviation enthusiast, Todd earned his private pilot’s license in 1987 and holds instrument and multi-engine ratings. His deep understanding of both aviation and business has shaped his leadership philosophy, emphasizing people, integrity, and long-term relationships as the foundation of Duncan Aviation’s success.

Todd earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Nebraska Wesleyan University and furthered his executive education through the prestigious Stanford Executive Program. Over more than three decades with the company, he has served in various leadership roles.

Under his leadership, Duncan Aviation has strengthened its commitment to team member development, customer service, and innovation across its nationwide network. Todd continues to champion the company’s mission of delivering unparalleled aviation support and solutions while preserving the family values that have defined Duncan Aviation since 1956.

Todd and his wife, Connie, are the proud parents of twin sons, Harrison and PK, who have both continued the family legacy by taking on roles at Duncan Aviation.

Karen Duncan, wife of Robert Duncan, Chairman Emeritus of Duncan Aviation, is deeply connected to the Duncan Aviation family legacy. Her personal and philanthropic pursuits reflect her commitment to team members, community, education, and the arts.

A passionate advocate for cultural enrichment, Karen co-founded and supports the Clarinda Carnegie Art Museum, a nonprofit arts organization. In 2019, she published a bilingual children’s book, Chica, inspired by the family’s beloved dog and Mexican cultural roots. Half of the proceeds from the book support the museum’s mission to make art accessible to all.

Her values of education and giving back culminated in the Karen K. Duncan Scholarship program at Duncan Aviation, named in her honor. The scholarship provides financial support to children of full-time Duncan Aviation team members, rewarding academic achievement, leadership, citizenship, and career goals. Over the years, hundreds of scholarships—totaling millions of dollars—have been awarded to help students pursue higher education.

As a way to recognize the longtime contributions of team members, Robert and Karen founded the Silver Wings Club. This exclusive group was created to celebrate team members who have dedicated 25 years or more to Duncan Aviation. Today, more than 715 current and former team members are proud members of the club.

Karen Duncan’s influence is evident in her creative projects, philanthropy, and the enduring legacy of education and service she supports within the Duncan Aviation community.

Connie Duncan, wife of Chairman of the Board of Directors, Todd Duncan, plays a vital and inspiring role at Duncan Aviation, combining her passion for education, philanthropy, and community impact with her position as a member of the company’s leadership. She currently serves as Vice President of the Duncan Aviation Family Trust, a charitable organization that annually awards grants exceeding $500,000 to support education, human services, and aviation/STEM programs in the communities where Duncan Aviation operates.

One of her signature initiatives resulted in a $3.34 million gift to Lincoln Public Schools to build a dedicated aviation and technical-education facility at North Star High School. Connie often emphasizes the impact of hands-on learning experiences and aspires to ignite students’ curiosity about aviation careers.

Within Duncan Aviation, Connie has also been an advocate for the Karen K. Duncan Scholarship, a program that advances the education of team members’ children by awarding merit-based college scholarships. She has spoken publicly about the company’s belief that “our team members are our family,” and sees investing in their futures as a moral responsibility.

Her leadership is rooted in humility, service, and a collaborative spirit. Whether hosting community events, or guiding philanthropic strategy behind the scenes, Connie continues to strengthen Duncan Aviation’s commitment to building bridges between aviation, education, and community.

If one was to use a person as the definition of the term “loyal friend,” Darlene Christensen certainly fills that role. Born on December 14, 1929, she began a 50-year association with Donald Duncan and Duncan Aviation in 1954—starting by persuading Donald to hire her at his car dealership so she could pay for the car she bought from him.

Darlene quickly became indispensable, handling payroll, accounting, parts, customer service, and even caring for Donald’s children. She had a deep love for children and animals, always eager to cuddle a child or engage warmly with visitors. She soon recognized Donald’s passion for aviation and supported his shift into the airplane business in 1956, flying daily from Clarinda, Iowa, to Omaha, Nebraska. Her skills were crucial to the budding operation.

As Duncan Aviation grew, Darlene moved with it—eventually settling on a farm near Raymond, Nebraska. Her calm, thoughtful demeanor left an impression on thousands. “It never mattered what time of the day or night or how difficult the problem, Darlene was always there,” said Robert Duncan. She was involved in roughly 3,000 aircraft transactions during her tenure and found joy in every jet takeoff. Darlene worked supporting and inspiring others until she passed away from cancer on June 17, 2024.

Harry Barr played a key role in the early years of Duncan Aviation. He was a close friend and business partner of Duncan Aviation's founder, Donald Duncan. Over time, Harry became a legendary figure within the company and the aviation industry, helping to build the company’s foundation. Duncan Aviation would not be what it is without Harry Barr.

Harry served as a foundational figure at Duncan Aviation, working with the company for over five decades. During his tenure, he flew a wide variety of aircraft — from experimental planes and helicopters to early business jets such as the Learjet 23 — and mentored countless individuals entering the aviation field.

What makes Harry a legend is not his decades in aviation or his 30,000 flying hours. It's not his years as a flight instructor or the support he gave to the younger generation. And it's not his impact on the aviation industry. It’s the respect he showed to others. Harry Barr was a mild-mannered, smart, caring, and kind individual who would bend over backward to help a friend in need. Harry was not only an example of the type of pilot people strive to be, but also the type of person we all aspire to be.

Looking at Harry and how he lived his life, you’d have no idea about his amazing adventures or his standing in the aviation community. He was just a good, humble man. One of the best.

Aaron Hilkemann has been a transformative leader at Duncan Aviation, helping to guide the company through decades of growth, structural development, and cultural strengthening. He joined the company in the mid-1990s as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, bringing prior experience from banking and finance to the aviation services sector.

In 1997, Aaron assumed the role of President, and soon after, that of CEO. During his tenure, he championed the formation of a robust senior leadership team to help infuse strategic decision-making across the organization. Under his stewardship, Duncan Aviation expanded significantly—quadrupling in size—and invested heavily in facility growth, acquisitions, and market diversification, including establishing its full-service presence in Battle Creek, Michigan, and Provo, Utah.

Aaron’s leadership philosophy is rooted in servant leadership, integrity, and placing people at the center of the company’s mission. He is credited with bringing consistency, formal structure, and collaborative processes to leadership, while preserving the family values and culture that define the organization.

In 2020, Aaron transitioned out of day-to-day operations into a new part-time role as Chairman of the Board of Advisors, allowing him to focus on high-level relationships, mentoring, and guiding long-term strategy. He has also been active in the broader aviation community, serving in leadership roles with industry associations.

Aaron’s legacy at Duncan Aviation is one of growth, stability, and nurturing talent—he has left the organization well positioned for continued success.