Mark Bathurst is the Director of Lansing Community College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program located at the Mason Jewett Airport. Mark joined the aviation maintenance program in 2015, and is responsible for all facets of the program to include FAA regulatory compliance. Mark is a graduate of East Lansing High School, obtained his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University’s James Madison College, and has a Master of Business Administration from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.After graduation from Michigan State, Mark joined the United States Air Force where he served over 22 years as a C-141 cargo aircraft instructor and evaluator pilot on both active duty and in the Air Force Reserves. He amassed over 5,000 flight hours and flew during conflicts including Viet Nam, Grenada, Panama, and Desert Storm One where he was recalled to active duty for 9 months and flew extensively in the Middle East area. He retired from the Air Force Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel. Mark also flew for United Airlines as a pilot. His commercial aviation career spanned more than 35 years, and he accumulated over 24,000 flight hours. Mark has aircraft ratings on almost all Boeing commercial aircraft and on most Airbus commercial aircraft. While at United Mark also served as the head of the United pilots’ union representing over 12,000 pilots, and concurrently served as a member of the United Airlines’ Board of Directors for four years.
Mark has lectured at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business and at the Harvard Business School on Employee Stock Ownership Programs and airline bankruptcies and labor relations. He is a part owner of a Cessna 172 which he flies for fun, and he lives in Dimondale.