Board of Directors

Nicolas Finazzo founded AerSale in 2008 and has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since inception. He also serves as Division President - TechOps, which focuses on the Company’s growing MRO and Engineered Solutions products. From 1997 to 2008, Mr. Finazzo was Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AeroTurbine, Inc., a leading private non-OEM affiliated aftermarket supplier of aircraft and engine products and MRO service provider. Mr. Finazzo together with his business partner, Robert Nichols, successfully grew this Company to become a premium integrated global aviation supplier and sold it to Cerberus in 2006, where it was merged into AerCap Holdings (NYSE: AER). Mr. Finazzo worked for AerCap for several years to integrate the operations and successfully transitioned his responsibilities to a successor management team.

In 1997, Mr. Finazzo was Vice President & General Counsel of AeroThrust, Inc., an MRO service provider for commercial jet aircraft engines. From 1991 to 1997, Mr. Finazzo was Vice President & General Counsel of International Air Leases, Inc., an integrated aircraft leasing company. From 1987 to 1991, Mr. Finazzo was Vice President of Contracts for Greenwich Air Services, a commercial jet engine MRO service provider. From 1981 to 1987, Mr. Finazzo was the founder and President of Southern Express Airways, Inc., a commuter airline operating in the United States as part of the Air Florida commuter network.

Mr. Finazzo has a J.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Law and a B.S. degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan. He is a member in good standing of the Florida Bar and holds an FAA Airframe and Powerplant license.

In 2019 Mr. Finazzo was honored to receive the Wright Brothers Memorial Award from the Greater Miami Aviation Association. The Wright Brothers Memorial award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated innovation, vision, perseverance, and have transformed their industry segment.

Robert B. Nichols has over 25 years of experience in aircraft engine sales, commercial aircraft leasing, and aviation MRO.

Mr. Nichols began his career in 1982 at Aviall, taking on various roles in the administration of JT8D and CFM56-3 powerplant maintenance. In 1988, he joined Braniff Airways as Manager of Powerplant and Warranty Administration and was responsible for the oversight of outsourced JT8D, V2500, and Tay-650 engine maintenance. He later assumed the position of Director of Engine Maintenance Sales for Greenwich Air Services, prior to joining AeroThrust as Vice President of Engine Sales and Leasing.

In 1997, Mr. Nichols cofounded AeroTurbine, where he served as Chief Operating Officer. After selling AeroTurbine in 2006, Robert Nichols and Nick Finazzo went on to found AerSale in 2008.

Mr. Nichols is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas, where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration. He is also a licensed commercial pilot.

Carol DiBattiste has a distinguished record of government service, having served as Honorable Under Secretary of the U.S. Air Force (DOD), Deputy Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA, DHS), Deputy U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (DOJ), and Executive in charge and vice Chairman of the Board of Veterans Affairs (VA). She also served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force.

In addition to her public sector leadership, she has extensive experience in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and cybersecurity.  She has held executive positions at public companies, including service as Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at QOMPLX, and Comscore (Nasdaq: SCOR), as well as senior executive roles at Education Management Corporation (Nasdaq: EDMC), GeekNet (Nasdaq: GKNT), Reed Elsevier and LexisNexis (NYSE: RELX).  Ms. DiBattiste also brings prior public board experience, serving as Chair of AEYE (Nasdaq: LIDR), and as a board member of Climb Global Solutions (Nasdaq: CLMB).

Carol holds a Master of Laws from Columbia University, a J.D. from Temple University, and a B.A. from LaSalle University.  She has completed executive programs at Harvard Business School and Carnegie Mellon University and is NACD Directorship Certified^TM. 

Lieutenant General Judith A. Fedder, USAF (Ret.), was appointed to the Board of Directors of AerSale on July 1, 2022. General Fedder served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, at the U.S. Air Force headquarters in Washington, D.C. at the time of her retirement after nearly 35 years of active duty. In that role, she was responsible for leadership, management and integration of Air Force logistics readiness, aircraft, munitions, and missile maintenance, with emphasis on combat readiness and weapon system availability. Her portfolio also included setting policy and preparing budget estimates for Air Force civil engineering and security forces functions. Her active duty career included leading and commanding aircraft maintenance units. She also served as the Sub-Unified Commander of U.S. Forces Azores and commanded the 76th Maintenance Wing aircraft depot at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, leading over 9,000 employees in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of military aircraft, engines, and components.

Following her military career, General Fedder was a Senior Director at The Boeing Company for Global Sales and Marketing, Integrated Logistics, Boeing Defense. In that role, she secured capture of after-market services for military fighter and helicopter platforms and supply chain. She is currently a Senior Advisor at the Boston Consulting Group, as well as an independent consultant with JFedder Consulting, LLC.

General Fedder is a member of the Board of Directors of GelSight, Inc. and the Institute for Defense & Business, a nonprofit education and research institute. She also served as a member of the Defense Advisory Committee for Women in the Services and is an Emeritus Member of the Board of Governors for Civil Air Patrol. She is also a former Presidential appointee to the Board of Visitors for the U.S. Air Force Academy and a recipient of the Michigan State University Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014.

General Fedder graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and holds an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology. She is also a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program.

General C. Robert Kehler, USAF (ret), has served as a director of Monocle Acquisition Corp since its prospectus. He has 43 years of leadership, strategy and governance experience related to military operations of the United States of America. General Kehler currently serves on the board of directors of Maxar Technologies Ltd. (Ticker: MAXR) and Connect Bidco Ltd. (parent of Inmarsat) and is a senior advisor to McKinsey and Company.

General Kehler retired from the United States Air Force in December 2013 after almost 39 years of distinguished service. From January 2011 until November 2013, he served as the Commander, United States Strategic Command (“USSTRATCOM”), where he was directly responsible to the Secretary of Defense and President for the plans and operations of all U.S. forces conducting strategic deterrence, nuclear alert, global strike, space, cyberspace and associated operations. Prior to commanding USSTRATCOM, General Kehler commanded United States Air Force Space Command (predecessor to the United States Space Force) and two operational space wings conducting space launch, missile warning, and space control missions. He also commanded an intercontinental ballistic missile squadron and group.

General Kehler entered the Air Force in 1975 as a Distinguished Graduate of the Pennsylvania State University R.O.T.C. program, has master’s degrees in Public Administration and National Security and Strategic Studies, and completed executive development programs at Carnegie-Mellon, Syracuse, and Harvard Universities. His military awards include the Defense Distinguished and Superior Service Medals, the Distinguished Service Medal (2 awards), Legion of Merit (3 awards), and the French Legion of Honor (Officer). General Kehler is an Affiliate of Stanford’s Center for International Security and Cooperation and a Senior Fellow of the National Defense University.

Mr. Levy is the founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avelo Airlines. Prior to launching Avelo Airlines in 2021, Mr. Levy was a co-founder, president and Chief Financial Officer at Allegiant Travel Company (Nasdaq: ALGT). Following his tenure at Allegiant, Mr. Levy served as Chief Financial Officer for United Airlines (NYSE:UAL) from August 2016 until May 2018. Mr. Levy has been a member of the board of directors at Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE: CPA) since 2016, a leading Latin American airline, and has served on the audit committee. Mr. Levy started his aviation career as the Director of Contracts at ValueJet Airlines and also served as Vice President of Savoy Capita, an aviation focused investment and advisory firm, and Vice President of Network Development and Planning at Mpower Communications, a telecommunications company.

Mr. Levy earned a BA degree in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis and Juris Doctorate degree from Emory University School of Law.

Mr. Levy brings to the Board just under three decades of corporate and entrepreneurial experience in the aviation and telecommunications industry as well as leadership and governance experience and extensive involvement serving as a director and member of board committees.

Thomas D. "Tommy" Mitchell is a seasoned supply chain executive with extensive leadership experience across healthcare, aviation, transportation, and energy industries.  He has held Chief Procurement Officer roles at GE Transportation, GE Healthcare, and Akumin, driving strategic sourcing initiatives to optimize costs and improve cash flow.

Tommy has lead global manufacturing operations, overseeing production teams and multi-site supply chains across diverse product lines, including aircraft engines and medical devices.  He also spearheaded the transformation of a private equity-backed aircraft engine repair business, enhancing compliance, operational efficiency, and market positioning.

With deep global expertise, Tommy has developed supplier networks in China, integrated acquisitions in Germany, and built GE's supply chain in India, including a $200 million greenfield site.  Known for balancing strategic vision with execution, he excels at building high-performing teams and driving business transformations.

Thomas Mullins was appointed to the AerSale Board in February 2025.  Mr. Mullins is currently an independent investor, including multiple private equity investments in the airline and aviation services sector.  From 1990 until his retirement in June 2022, he was an investment banker at Raymond James Financial ("Raymond James", NYSE: RJF). In 2000, he founded the aviation sector investment banking practice within Raymond James, which completed transactions for a range of clients in The Americas and Europe, including low-cost air carriers, full-service airlines, cargo airlines, regional "feeder" airlines, fixed-base operators, charter airlines, loyalty programs and others.  His transaction work for aviation clients included IPOs and other types of public securities offerings, private equity and debt capital raises, mergers & acquisitions, and other advisory roles.

Mr. Mullins earned a BA degree with magna cum laude distinction from Vanderbilt University and also holds an MBA degree from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

Mr. Mullins brings to the Board particular knowledge and experience in the areas of corporate finance, strategic acquisitions and the capital markets.  He also brings existing familiarity with the Company's client base and feedstock sources, and with the commercial aviation sector generally.

Peter Nolan is the founder and Chairman of Nolan Capital, the holding company for his Family office that makes long term investments in growth-oriented companies.  Mr. Nolan is also a senior advisor to Leonard Green & Partners, L.P., a private equity firm, and was previously a managing partner of Leonard Green & Partners. During his time at Leonard Green, the firm completed 100 principal investments and grew Assets Under Management from $500 million in 1997 to $38 billion today. 

Prior to becoming a partner at Leonard Green & Partners in 1997, Mr. Nolan served as a managing director and the Co-Head of Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette’s Los Angeles Investment Banking Division from 1990 to 1997.  During his time at DLJ, Mr. Nolan helped to build the LA based investment bank to the largest regional presence in the country.  Prior to DLJ, Mr. Nolan had served as a First Vice President in corporate finance at Drexel Burnham Lambert from 1986 to 1990, and as a Vice President at Prudential Securities, Inc. from 1982 to 1986. Prior to 1982, Mr. Nolan was an associate at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company.

Mr. Nolan presently services as Chairman of Diamond Wipes International, Ortega National Parks, and Fresh Brothers.  He currently services on the Board of Directors of Activision and AerSale.  Peter has also serviced in various other boards including Aspen Dental Management, FTD Group, The Palms Hotel and Casino, Scitor Corporation, and the Supervisory Board of Adidas AG. 

Mr. Nolan is a Trustee Emeritus and was Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee for Cornell University, and is currently a member of the Investment Committee for the University’s endowment.  Mr. Nolan earned a B.S. of Science degree in Agricultural Economics and Finance from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University.