Chapter Leadership

Madline Willis

EAA Veteran of multiple chapters

My first introduction to flying was working at Oshkosh in 2006 for Ford motor company. I understand what it feels like to be truly passionate about something. Up to this point it had been dance. Looking around at all the amazing aircraft and home built planes I became hooked and have been proud to be part of firstly Chapter 1554 which I was a founding member in Idaho and now Chapter 1657 in Three Forks Montana. 

We have grown our chapter and now offer the Young Eagles program to inspire passion in the next generation.

Max Hopfinger

Skier, Private Pilot, Instrument Rating

I was born and raised in Upstate New York participating in alpine ski racing, football, and dirt bike enduro racing. I moved to Bozeman in 2018 to pursue an associates in Aviation as well as a bachelors in finance with 1 more year left. I am an avid mountain biker, hunter, dirt biker, and sledder.  I received my private pilots license in June of 2020, and over the next year and a half I completed my instrument training and my multi private certificate. I am currently working through my multi commercial training. I am looking forward to all of the opportunities and experiences that the future will hold within our chapter and beyond!

John Sackett

Senior Vice-President and Nuclear Engineer

John I. Sackett is a nuclear engineer, retired from Argonne National Laboratory. Currently, is serving as a senior vice president of Advanced Reactor Concepts, a startup company developing an advanced nuclear reactor to be built in Canada. He previously owned a C-182 with ~3500 hours in the airplane and currently owns a Kitfox series 7 with plans to build another this year.

Connor Cawthorn

Private Pilot, Gliders, Airplanes

Connor found himself in the Gallatin Valley to pursue the Aviation Sciences as well as the Finance program at Montana State University. After graduating from the Finance program in the spring of 2020, he has been focusing on his Operations Analyst role at a local equipment manufacturer. Connor’s love of all things aviation started from a young age with his grandfather being involved in the
EAA while building a Volksplane. From there it evolved into paragliders where he had the opportunity to fly all over in the Mountains-West region. The sport evolved into faster and faster wings for him with the culmination being high-performance speedwings that were flown with skis on to facilitate snowy take off and landings. In addition to gliders, Connor has been working through is fixed wing ratings. He holds Private ASEL, AMEL and Instrument ratings. To keep up on currency and act as a time builder, he purchased a Rans S-6S Coyote II in completed form. He has enjoyed the learning curve that is maintaining and flying experimental aircraft!