Meet the Board of Directors
Michael J. Freiman, President
Michael J. Freiman is the senior partner of a fourteen-person wealth management group, Team Freiman of Morgan Stanley in Washington, D.C. They focus on comprehensive wealth management, financial planning and investment management programs designed to organize and simplify all financial matters for their clients. He became registered in 1981 and has worked in the same office his entire career. Mr. Freiman has been consistently recognized as one of the Nation’s Top 1200 advisors in Barron’s State-by State listing and also recognized by Shook Research and Forbes Magazine as one of America’s Best-InState Financial Advisors 2019-2024. He is a frequent speaker at his firm and industry conferences. Mr. Freiman is a proud alumnus of the University of Maryland and is a past President of the Terrapin Club. He is also a Past President of the Zeta Psi International Fraternity and Educational Foundation and the Amity Club of Washington, D.C. He has served as a Board Member of the Field of Firsts Foundation, supporting the College Park Aviation Museum since 2017. Mr. Freiman and his wife Ann live at their home on Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland and also reside in Rockville, Maryland.
Michael Twigg began volunteering at the museum in 2015. He enjoys greeting visitors and sharing his enthusiasm and pride about the airport's history when he works the Front Desk. A University of Maryland graduate with a degree in History, Mike’s professional background includes mortgage banking and housing. Mike and his wife, Sandra, have two sons, Peter and Jack.
Michael Twigg, Vice President
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Leon Jackler is an attorney, commercial pilot, and flight instructor, who has been active at the College Park Airport for several decades. His fascination with all things aviation began when he was 3 years old watching the Blue Angels perform. He solo’d an airplane at age 16 and has accumulated thousands of hours in numerous aircraft types including his own Grumman Cheetah. In addition to flight hours, he has also accumulated a breadth of aviation knowledge, both technical and historical. Since graduating from law school in 1998 he has also worked as a senior attorney in the Federal Government. He lives in Silver Spring.
Leon Jackler, Treasurer
Tyler Cohen is an Aerospace Engineer, and a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park. He currently works for Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Southern Maryland. He is highly involved in the Aero Dynamics Workshop, the all-volunteer crew that provides aircraft and exhibit repair support for the museum. He is also a private pilot, and enjoys designing and constructing light aircraft, ultralights, and hang gliders.
Tyler Cohen, Secretary
Erin Miller is an attorney, pilot and author based in Maryland. She holds a J.D. from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law, a Master's degree in International Studies from the University of Leeds (UK), and a B.A. in History from the University of California, San Diego. Erin is the author of the book, "Final Flight Final Fight," which chronicles her family's journey to have her World War II WASP pilot grandmother, Elaine Danforth Harmon, laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
Erin Miller
Lucia Mencia
Lucia Mencia is an architect and President of Aero-Biz Development Group, LLC, an architecture firm specializing in aviation architecture. For the last twenty years, she has been a professional aviation architect that has specialized in aviation planning, terminal upgrades, hangar modernizations, airport planning including fly-in aviation communities. Aware of the issues, problems and potential solutions of pilots, airports, air-communities, she joined the Field of Firsts Board to contribute to its aviation- and museum-focused mission.
Lucia is the chairman of the Women Pilots - Ninety Nines, Washington DC chapter, a VP of the Women in Aviation, a legacy member of Latinas in Aviation, a contributor to the Young Eagles program of the EAA-4 group, based at College Park Airport. Lucia is an active pilot, involved with many STEM projects involving boy/girl scouts, YYA and aviation high schools.
Arthur J. Johnson
Admiral Johnson is the Founder and CEO of Destiny Aviation Services, LLC. After leading and commanding at all aviation levels in the U.S. Navy for 33 years, he now seeks to broaden the nation’s pool of aviation professionals through various aviation and education initiatives. He is a youth mentor, motivational speaker, education advocate, and youth programs strategic advisor. His vision and passion is to help train and develop the next wave of leaders and problem-solvers for our nation. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in International Security Affairs from the U.S. Naval Academy. His postgraduate education includes master’s degrees from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and the National War College. He was also a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI fellow. In addition to serving as a Field of Firsts Foundation, Inc. member, he is also an AOPA member and a commercial-rated pilot. He has amassed more the 4,200 flight hours.
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David Gavin
Andrew Bridge
Andrew Bridge is currently a Senior Sales Executive for What’s Up Promotions. Previously, he was was with EagleBank as a SVP in charge of Sales and Client Services and President and CEO of Big Adventure Golf for 20 years, a company dedicated to producing and managing Corporate and Charity Golf Events. Prior to his golf business, he was Senior Vice President of Sales for several organizations that provided products and services for government projects and initiatives. Bridge is a graduate of the University of Maryland and continues to support the University as a member of the Terrapin Club and Alumni Association. Bridge is a Board Member and Advocate for organizations such as The Brem Foundation, Adventist Health Care Shady Grove Medical Center Foundation, the Bender JCC, The Washington Hospital Center Cancer Foundation and the EagleBank Foundation, and the Fight 4 Diabetes Cure. “My passion lies in giving back to my community, making sure I work with organizations that are saving lives and helping make our community better.” He is married to the former Tina Levy. They reside in Montgomery County and have three children and an adored family dog.
Mary Perry
A native of Somerset, Massachusetts, Mary Perry is a three-degree graduate of Boston University. Her career started in the private practice after law school before joining the Air Force. She specialized in international and national security law, served primarily at air bases overseas, earned an LL.M. degree from UVA’s law school and provided strategic legal counsel in war rooms around the globe. After 26 years on active duty, Mary worked for the DoD General Counsel and for the Secretary of the Air Force, for a total of 31 years in federal service. Now both retire, she and her husband, Stuart Bowers, live primarily in Naples, Florida, enjoy summers on the Delaware shore, and are big supporters of the University of Maryland athletics. She is excited to combine volunteer service to Field of Firsts Foundation with their frequent visits to the UMD flagship campus in College Park.
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More visitor information
Membership
Join the Field of Firsts Foundation and support the museum
Exhibits
Learn more about the aircraft and stories featured in the museum
Plan your visit
Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm
Closed Mondays and holidays