Robert “RJ” Krist
Senior Managing Director & COO
RJ joined GBA to lead our day-to-day operations and key business development efforts, and heads our Energy and International Historic Aviation Groups. RJ brings both extensive military and commercial experience and expertise to GBA. His experience includes serving as Advisor and Assistant to the Governor and Adjutant General of the State of Nebraska. In that position, RJ recruited to bring in new jobs to the Nebraska Air National Guard by bringing in new missions and new opportunities. He was directly responsible for overseeing the final transition of the unit aircraft from fighters to transport, mid-air refuelers.
He served as the Commander and Operations Officer (President / COO of Department of Defense Operational Units where he was Director of Plans and Programs. In this position RJ was charged with the Command of, and planning for flight operations and logistical support of wartime tasking and peacetime reconnaissance directed by the National Command Authority. Hand selected on three separate occasions to set up bare-base or start-up locations while executing wartime mission tasking in global locations.
RJ is currently serving as the Aviation Contract Manager & Chief Pilot, United States Army Corps of Engineers Northwest Division, Omaha, Nebraska. He was recruited to stabilize operations and lead an operational conversion to comply with newly mandated Government Regulations, Instructions and Contract Specifications .Responsible for all facets of flight and ground operations including the training of all personnel and the maintenance and certification of equipment.
RJ has recently been appointed as a Nebraska State Senator.
His education includes a Masters, Business Administration and Human Relations and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Psychology plus numerous professional schools and courses.