National Council - Bill J. Collins

Bill J. Collins III is the president of HAECO Americas. Founded in 1990, HAECO Americas is a subsidiary of the HAECO Group and supports aircraft carriers around the world through a broad array of aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and engineering services, as well as comprehensive cabin interiors products and services. The company is headquartered in Greensboro, NC, and employs over 2,000 individuals across four locations.

Prior to joining HAECO in September 2018, Mr. Collins spent one year building an MRO practice at ICF, a consulting and technology services provider. Before that, he was senior vice president of flight and technical operations at Bristow Group, and corporate vice president of technical operations for American Airlines, where he oversaw three sites and 1,000 aircraft. He also held senior sales and operational roles at GE Aviation.

Mr. Collins has served on the board of directors of the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, a Tulsa, OK-based for-profit college that offers training in aviation, aviation electronics, flight, quality control, and aircraft maintenance. In 2011, while working at American Airlines (AA), he helped facilitate the donation of a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 commercial jet airliner from AA to Spartan College. He also was the commencement speaker for the college’s 2011 graduation ceremony.

Mr. Collins grew up in Buffalo, NY, and now resides in Winter Garden, FL, with his wife, Linda. Ms. Collins previously worked as an animator for Disney, and is also a classically trained chef and entrepreneur. Mr. Collins has a deep passion and appreciation for music. He is an accomplished trumpet and piano player, but has stated in the past that he decided to study engineering because he felt it was more challenging.