Joe Bonita is a seasoned aviation maintenance and supply chain executive, with nearly 40 years of experience in commercial, government/military, corporate aviation and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations. He is a retired U.S. Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Officer, leading numerous airframe and component maintenance organizations, as well as global supply chain and logistics operations in the Pacific and Asia. Additionally, he served as an instructor at the prestigious USAF Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School.

Currently Joe is the Managing Member and Owner of Space Coast Aviation Advisors LLC, serving as an independent consultant for numerous commercial, business, and Government aviation customers. Most significantly, Joe is a senior advisor to the Boston Consulting Group on their US Navy Naval Sustainment System (NSS) Fleet Readiness Center component shop transformation projects, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard machine shop transformation, and E-6 aircraft modification program.  Joe has also supported multiple customers establishing and revising FAA Part 145 repair station manuals, led several aircraft heavy maintenance oversight activities, and supported three government aircraft and component maintenance contract proposals.

Most recently prior to opening Space Coast Aviation Advisors, Joe was Managing Director of Citadel Completions, a VIP aircraft interior completions and MRO company focusing primarily on narrow and wide-bodied aircraft. Prior to Citadel Completions, Joe worked for URS Federal Services then AAR. Joe was Director of Maintenance for URS’s government contracted, FAA Part 121 compliant, flight operation in Las Vegas, where he managed maintenance operations for a fleet of 737-600 aircraft.  During his employment with AAR, Joe held Vice President of Quality and Vice President of Operations positions in their MRO businesses, and Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering, and the FAA Part 119 Accountable Manager, for AAR’s global FAA Part 135 flight operation.  In each of these roles, Joe was responsible for all aspects of maintenance operations, quality control/quality assurance, supply chain and repairs management, and planning.

Rounding off his experience, Joe is served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University with more than 25 years of experience teaching aircraft maintenance management, aviation safety, safety program management (including SMS), management of air cargo, and aircraft and jet engine mishap investigation courses.

Joe earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and is a graduate of the U.S Air Force Air Command and Staff College. He currently holds FAA Airframe and Powerplant Certificate, as well as DoD TS/SCI clearance.