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Instructors

Our instructors help students earn their certifications and ratings!

Timber Dawson is a third generation pilot with aviation roots dating back to her grandfather flying biplanes in 1939. She has earned degrees in aviation management and aviation science, and is a CFI, AGI, and IGI, currently working towards CFII. She is passionate about sharing her love of aviation with students and helping them achieve their own flying dreams.
Taylor Burdorf graduated from the University of Louisville in 2020. He grew up playing competitive hockey and was a member of UofL’s hockey team. Playing hockey across the country is what gave Taylor a passion to travel and growing up around aviation lead him to become a pilot. Taylor is a CFI/CFII/MEI, his goal is to build a career in commercial aviation as a pilot.
Dan Graw is originally from Sunbury, PA. After graduating from Susquehanna University, Dan served as an Army Officer and Paratrooper for the past 24 years. Dan began his flight training at Louisville Aviation after being stationed at Fort Knox, KY. Dan retires from the Army as of January 1 st and is looking forward to helping you on your aviation journey. With two master’s degrees, and three years as a college professor at Bucknell University plus an instructor assignment in the Army, Dan has wealth of teaching experience in his background. Dan is a CFI and CFII and will be completing his Commercial Multi-Engine and MEI training in October.
Allie is a second generation instructor at Louisville Aviation, and absolutely loves teaching! When she’s not flying, Allie is working the desk at the FBO, running the Louisville Aviation socials, and looking for more flying adventures with friends. In the future she hopes to fly with NetJets, and is excited to see where her career takes her!
Matthew Thompson grew up in Indiana where he attended Indiana University. After working in the cycling industry, Matthew leaped to pursue Aviation. In 2022, he relocated to Louisville and joined Louisville Aviation where he has since completed his CFI & CFII. He looks forward to sharing his lessons learned while flying to help you achieve your aviation goals.
Bennett was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and always had an interest in aviation. It wasn’t until he graduated from Centre College in 2022 that he decided to go to flight school at ATP where he obtained all his required ratings including CFI, CFII, and MEI. His ultimate goal is to become a captain at a major airline, but intends to continue instructing throughout his career. In his spare time, he loves spending time with friends, grilling out, playing golf, and sharing his passion for flight.
Daniel Weller is an Atlanta, GA native who moved to Louisville in 2010. He is a graduate of South Oldham High School and Liberty University. His passion for aviation started well before his first logbook entry. He is a second generation aviator, who spent his childhood around airplanes. He rediscovered his passion for aviation in 2022 when he realized his desk job would never compare to flying airplanes for a living. He quit that desk job and jumped into flight training in 2023, earning his Private Pilot through CFI certificates at Louisville Aviation. His ultimate goal is to fly for a major airline. As an instructor, he’s approachable, patient, and committed to creating a positive, encouraging environment for students at every stage of training. He is excited to share his passion with his students and help them towards their aviation goals. In his free time he enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his wife.
Matt Lawson is a Louisville, Kentucky native, who spent his early years helping his dad, Joe, work on airplanes at Bowman Field. In 2005, Joe and his partner acquired a 1961 Cessna 172B that needed a complete restoration. Matt began his flying career in it, earning all his ratings. A graduate of Atherton High School and Jefferson Community and Technical College, Matt is currently a CFI, AGI, and IGI, working towards his CFII.
Shelby Wuest is a Louisville native where she graduated from Assumption High School and the University of Louisville with a Bachelors in Business Administration. She completed her private, instrument, commercial, and CFI here at Louisville Aviation. Shelby plans to fly at a regional airline and work towards her goal of flying for UPS. She is excited to share her knowledge and passion to help students achieve their aviation pursuits.
Elijah Green, born in Anchorage, Alaska, developed an early passion for aviation, influenced by his parents in the Air Force. He pursued piloting, graduating from ATP in Sellersburg, Indiana, and obtaining his CFI certificate in Charlotte, NC. As a flight instructor and aviation course teacher for Vincennes University at Prosser Career Education Center.
Bryan Arnold is a retired LMPD Helicopter Air Unit Officer with an extensive background in Aviation.
Dylan Waddle, a Richmond, Kentucky native, attended Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) for college. After two semesters of career exploration, he took a discovery flight through EKU and switched majors to pursue aviation. He earned his private pilot license at EKU and then moved to Louisville for ATP, where he completed his CFI. Dylan now loves instructing and aims to share his passion for aviation with his students.
Dennis is a first generation pilot who began flying with EKU in 2020. Dennis enjoys working out, playing soccer & video games. Dennis enjoys sharing his passion for Aviation with others and hopes to continue his aviation career by working for a regional airline.
Sam Daugherty
1975- 1st solo
1983- Flight Instructor
1989-2023 (retired). Pilot with UPS. Douglas DC8, Boeing 757 & 767
Christian Cavallaro grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and graduated from Centre College with a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance in 2021. He started his aviation journey here at Bowman Field shortly after realizing that he wasn’t passionate about what he’d studied. Over the following years, he continued to build his experience and acquired his CFI, CFII, and MEI certificates at ATP.
Isaac Fife was first inspired to fly by his grandfather who flew with the flying Tigers. He is a graduate of Transylvania University and earned his Private Pilot’s license in his hometown of Henderson, KY. He later earned his CFI, CFII & MEI in Clearwater, Florida. Isaac now wants to share and expand his passion for aviation by teaching and instructing new pilots.
Kyle Feger is from the Louisville area where he graduated from Trinity High School. He attended Eastern Kentucky University graduating with a degree in professional flight. Kyle is looking to go to the regionals and fulfill his life long dream of flying for UPS. He is excited to share his knowledge and experience with Louisville Aviation students to help them achieve their flying goals.
Elijah Bergquist has been a part of the 123rd Air National Guard in Louisville as a C-130 mechanic for almost 4 years! Elijah loves sharing his passion for Aviation. Elijah’s end goal is to fly for UPS and to become the best aviator he can be!
Ibrahim was born and raised in Louisville, he is a first generation pilot from a Bosnian family. Ibrahim found his love for flying while working at UPS to help pay for his bachelors degree from University of Louisville. He took a discovery flight with Louisville Aviation in 2021 and has since completed all of his rating with Louisville Aviation. Ibrahim enjoys teaching others and sharing his passion for aviation with his students.
DMario Perdomo - CFI
DMario has spent most of his life in Louisville, where he graduated from Atherton High School. A first generation pilot, he completed all of his training at Louisville Aviation, beginning with his private pilot certificate while still in high school, and is now a CFI. He is also pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management through our partner school, Purdue Global. Dedicated to helping others achieve their aviation goals, DMario enjoys sharing his knowledge and passion for flying with his students.
Aaron Murphy - CFI, CFII, MEI
Aaron Murphy, originally from Western Kentucky, moved to Louisville over 20 years ago. A lifelong aviation enthusiast, he began training with Louisville Aviation in 2022 and now holds instrument, commercial single- and multi-engine, and seaplane ratings. He’s also an FAA Instrument and Advanced Ground Instructor, as well as a Certified Flight Instructor. Rather than flying big jets, Aaron enjoys the freedom of flying small aircraft. As an airplane owner, he’s experienced in buying, selling, maintaining, and maximizing aircraft ownership. He’s flown coast to coast, from Miami to the Great Lakes, exploring everything from rivers to remote grass airstrips. Now, he hopes to share his passion by instructing part-time at Louisville Aviation.
David, a Louisville native, has been with Louisville Aviation in varying capacities for over 20 years. After earning his private pilot certificate through the Shawnee Aviation program with JCPS in 1995, he earned his follow-on ratings right here in Louisville. His airline career began with Trans States Airlines in 2007 and then transitioned to Republic Airways in 2008 before finally landing at UPS in 2022. David is a First Officer on the 757/767 international fleet at UPS with over 13,000 hours of total time.
My name is Elizabeth Wormley, I’m a CFI with Louisville Aviation and a mother to a 3 year old little girl. I’m currently serving in the Air Force for 13 years. I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling! My goal is to continue to instruct and hope to join the airlines!
Joey Wetenkamp grew up in Henry County, Kentucky. He joined the Army Reserves in 2017 and graduated from Kentucky State University with an associate’s degree. He worked as a full-time farm mechanic at Kentucky State University while earning his ratings. He enjoys furniture making, playing the piano, blacksmithing, and painting. Joey looks forward to sharing lessons he gained while he was learning to fly.
I love flying with my family as you see in the picture above. It has been a life long dream of mine to be a career pilot and I am a second generation pilot. I enjoy helping people achieve their goals in aviation! I have been a part time flight instructor for just over a year and have accumulated just over 1,000 hours while working full time as a paramedic for the past 9 years!
Matt is a career 2.0 pilot that has been flying with Louisville Aviation for over 2 years now. He’s always wanted to fly - but career & life took him all around the world - and yet he’s never let go of his dream to be a pilot. He loves instructing those that have the same dream to fly. He ultimately hopes to transition to the larger aircraft to travel the world again - but this time, from the cockpit.
Alex is a second career pilot who strives to provide efficient, safe, and fun flight training. He received his bachelor’s from Ole Miss and completed all of his flight training at Louisville Aviation. He looks forward to working with students from all backgrounds.