One year ago today, we at The Wicks Group lost a brilliant aviation safety expert and a deeply respected colleague and friend—John Arthur Waltz, Vice President Technical. Out of respect for John and his family’s privacy, we waited for this anniversary to mark his passing.
John was, first and foremost, a good friend and a good person. He lived by the mantra that you can never have too many friends, and he embodied that ethic. He was always there, caring for others and looking out for their well-being. While we all strive to leave a mark with our work, few leave behind their humanity like John Waltz did. He inspired us to be better people. He regularly checked in on his friends. He cared -- deeply. The work came next.
In his work, John achieved at the highest level. Everyone who knew John knew he was an extraordinary talent. He spoke Arabic fluently and served as head of the FAA’s Civil Aviation Group (CAG) in Saudi Arabia for 7 years following his time as Principal Operations Inspector at a major US carrier. John later led the FAA and US State Department’s “Third Border Initiative” in the Caribbean, helping multiple countries receive FAA Category 1 ratings.
After retiring from the FAA, John joined The Wicks Group in 2011, bringing over 35 years of FAA leadership experience to TWG, along with a global perspective forged through decades of international aviation safety initiatives. His contributions were instrumental in helping Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Suriname, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, India, and Panama achieve or maintain ICAO Annex 1, 6, and 8 compliance as measured by FAA IASA Category 1 status. John also brought his substantial talent to the Middle East where he spent years assisting The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman. He was a very talented Airman and had an encyclopedic knowledge of Next Generation technology. From conducting simulator check rides on Boeing aircraft to building regulatory compliance frameworks in complex environments, John's expertise was second to none.
Thoughtful and generous with his knowledge, John trained over 3,000 inspectors and mentored hundreds more throughout his career. He did so throughout his career and continued to do so until May of 2024. His work illuminated safer skies and stronger oversight systems in every region he touched.
We continue to honor John’s legacy by upholding the same standards of excellence, professionalism, and dedication to global aviation safety that he exemplified. His influence remains present in our projects, our values, and our collective commitment to the mission of safer skies.
To those who worked alongside him, learned from him, or were inspired by his example, John is missed, remembered, and celebrated. John Arthur Waltz (76), passed away on May 2, 2024, and is survived by his family and friends. It was too soon.
John, your good friends miss you very much.