Kurt Howerton is a seasoned aviator, technology leader, and aviation educator with nearly three decades of experience spanning commercial flying, airshow performance, and airspace management. A commercial pilot with instrument and single-engine land ratings and more than 2,200 hours of total flight time, Kurt has spent ten years as a FAST-carded formation pilot and has performed at major airshows and fly-ins across California and the Southwest, including San Francisco Fleet Week, the California Capital Airshow, and Wings Over Wine Country. In recent years, he has turned his focus toward airshow operations, shadowing veteran airbosses at events like Wings Over Camarillo, the Yuma Airshow, and Buckeye Air Fair while completing ICAS Airboss training. He obtained an FAA Standard Airboss Letter of Authorization in 2026. Beyond the cockpit, Kurt serves as Director of Information Technology and CIO for the School of Engineering at Stanford University and brings aviation into the classroom as a guest lecturer in Stanford's AA160 Private Pilot Ground School. His background also includes Civil Air Patrol squadron command, paramedic certification, and film work, a combination that reflects a lifelong commitment to aviation, service, and community