Duncan Aviation Announces Senior Leadership Changes

LINCOLN, NEB. — Duncan Aviation’s CEO Jeff Lake recently announced changes to the company’s senior leadership as Duncan Aviation looks to the future and prepares for upcoming retirements.  

Effective January 1, Lake, who was previously CEO and President, transferred the President title to Mike Minchow, formerly Chief Operating Officer of the company’s Lincoln, Nebraska, MRO facility. Lake is retaining the CEO position. Kasey Harwick, former Vice President of Quality-Lincoln, was then promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Lincoln facility.

Minchow is a 31-year team member with Duncan Aviation, joining the Duncan Aviation Design Center in 1993 as a Designer while working on his Master’s degree in architecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He transitioned to Team Leader of Design, moved to Sales Team Leader, and then on to Program Manager. He was promoted to Sales Manager over Modifications (Paint, Interior, Avionics, and Install) and assumed those responsibilities for Airframe and Engine in 2011. In October 2015, he was promoted to Duncan Aviation’s Senior Management Team as Vice President of Sales and then Vice President of Modifications and Engineering. Minchow was named Chief Operating Officer-Lincoln in July 2020.

Minchow has been actively involved in the local community and has served on various aviation industry boards including the Gogo Dealer Advisory Board, Honeywell Channel Partner Advisory Board, Aircraft Electronic Association (AEA) Board, the NBAA Certified Aviation Manager Governing Board, and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Board.

Harwick joined Duncan Aviation’s Lincoln location in 1999. He performed completions on green Astra SPX aircraft until he transitioned to the Airframe team, which gave him experience on Astras, Learjets, and Challengers. After more than seven years as a Lead Technician, Harwick moved to a Team Leader position for a fleet customer program. He then served as the fleet program’s Program Manager until mid-2017, when he took on the responsibilities of Director of Maintenance at the Battle Creek, Michigan, facility. In 2018, Harwick was promoted to Vice President of Maintenance and in 2019 he returned to Lincoln as Vice President of Aircraft Services and Quality.

Harwick holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nondestructive Testing, a bachelor of science degree in Business with a minor in Marketing, a Master’s in Business Administration, a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership.

About Duncan Aviation

Duncan Aviation is an aircraft service provider supporting the aviation needs of business aircraft operators, government agencies, and other aircraft service providers. Services include major and minor airframe inspections, engine maintenance, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit avionics systems, full paint and interior services, engineering and certification services, fabrication and manufacturing services, and preowned aircraft sales and acquisitions. Duncan Aviation also has international aircraft components solutions experts available 24/7/365 at +1 402.475.4125 who can handle any aircraft system problem with immediate exchanges, rotables, loaners or avionics/instrument/accessory repairs and overhauls. Complete service facilities are located in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Provo, Utah. We also have dozens of other facilities strategically located throughout the United States to provide customers with scheduled regional support and the quickest response possible to avionics, engine and airframe Aircraft On Ground (AOG) situations.

For more information about any of Duncan Aviation’s services, call +1 402.475.2611 or visit https://www.DuncanAviation.aero/services