It’s time to vote!
Voting for the 2026 officer/director candidates began on June 1 and will close July 18th at midnight Central time. All votes must be cast via electronic ballot. Please take a moment to read the bios of each of the candidates. Elected candidates will join the IAC board of directors to shape the future of the organization.
The ballots will be tabulated by the IAC Ballot Certification Committee chair, and the results will be announced at the annual meeting of members, which will take place at 8:30 a.m. on July 26 in the Vicki Cruse Educational Pavilion at the IAC Aerobatic Center during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
You can cast your ballots HERE. (Members only)
Phillip Gragg for President
I’m excited to announce my candidacy for IAC president!
I’ve been a member of the organization since my late teens and competed from 2009 to 2012 and again from 2021 to present. I served on the Government Relations Committee in the mid-2010s and was elected to the board in 2023, and again in 2025. Most recently, I was appointed by the board to step into the role of vice president.
The board has tackled a number of important issues in the last few years, and we are now well positioned to start to think about the future of our organization.
Under my leadership, my goal for the organization is to lay the necessary groundwork to create strength for the IAC for the next several decades.
We will focus on developing a robust membership and stable financials, increasing our footprint and impact at AirVenture, continuing to partner with EAA, improving the quality of competition and judging, and retaining our position as the leader in aerobatic competition, education, and safety.
None of it will be possible without your participation and contribution. It is our club, and it will be what we make of it. From where I sit, that is an exciting prospect.
This organization is strong and has a rich history. As a group, we can work over the next few years to ensure opportunities that sustain our organization over the next several decades. The time and energy the membership puts in over the next few years will lay the groundwork for strength for many years to come.
Thank you for your support.
Sara Arnold for Secretary
Fellow IAC members,
It has truly been a pleasure serving as your secretary for the past years, and I would love the opportunity to continue serving you for another term.
Aviation and aerobatics have been part of my life since I was young, flying with my father. Years later, I was fortunate enough to fly and compete alongside him, which made my first competition in 2014 especially meaningful. Since then, I’ve tried to stay involved in as many ways as possible — from working corners and recording on the line to serving as contest director, scheduling webinars, writing articles, and helping facilitate the American Champion Medallion program. I have also joined the AirVenture team, the IAC Merchandise team, and the IAC Nationals Planning team.
Outside of IAC, I work full time as a project engineer at the Des Moines International Airport and previously served as an airport operations supervisor. These roles have helped me stay connected to the changing world of aviation while learning how to juggle multiple projects and keep safety front and center. They have also taught me the importance of organization, clear communication, and follow-through — skills I bring into my role as secretary.
In 2018, I founded the Women in Aviation Heartland Chapter, and in 2019, I was proud to help secure a proclamation from the governor of Iowa recognizing Girls in Aviation Day on October 5. Outreach and education are important to me, and I strongly believe that introducing people to aerobatics early and often is key to the long-term health of our sport.
Grassroots aviation is where my heart is. I love seeing people discover what they are capable of and find their place in aerobatics, whether that is at their first camp, their first contest, or simply attending their first IAC event. The camaraderie at camps and competitions is what makes this club special and is something I work hard to support and preserve.
If reelected, I will continue to advocate for strong communication, clear rules, and safety at every level of participation. I will also work to ensure that members feel informed, welcome, and heard. Thank you for your support and for being such an incredible community. I would be honored to continue serving as your secretary.
Shad Coulson for Director
As a dedicated and accomplished aerobatic competitor, organizer, and leader with a proven record of excellence in competition, governance, and event management, I am committed to advancing the mission of the IAC, supporting pilots at all levels, and strengthening the aerobatic community.
I bring a balanced perspective as a competitor, organizer, and current board member, with a strong commitment to safety, fairness, and growth in aerobatics. I look forward to continuing to serve the IAC community and helping shape its future.
Competition Experience:
Actively competing since 2018
Two-time Advanced National Champion
One-time Intermediate National Champion
Three-time member, U.S. Glider Aerobatic Team
IAC Leadership and Administrative Service
Glider Chair (since 2022)
Member, Rules, and Sequence Committee (since 2022)
Director, IAC Board of Directors (since 2024)
Vice President, Chapter 62 (2022-2026)
Contest Administration and Leadership
Contest Director, Estrella Classic (since 2020)
Contest Director, U.S. Nationals (since 2023)
Marty Flournoy for Director
I would like your support for an additional term as director to serve as your representative of IAC. As a vital part of our mission that involves promoting new members by making our sport more accessible, we, as a group, should strive to recruit and welcome more grassroots participants. As a member for over 30 years, I have been fortunate to have a strong chapter affiliation that has promoted and encouraged entry-level competitors and judges.
With local chapter support, I have been hosting and teaching judging schools for over 10 years. Since 2003, I have volunteered at World Aerobatic Championships and been on the line as a judge most of the time.
Most gratifying of all has been serving as a safety pilot, mentor, and CFI to a cadre of college students to help ensure new IAC pilots have safe entry-level experience as they get involved in our sport. It is my long-term goal to ensure that the IAC can continue to be the best place for aerobatic training and safety promotion.
I am confident that with planning and leadership, we can achieve financial stability and funding that will allow our regional chapters access to entry-level or grassroots student training.
Our support is vital to ensure a healthy and sustainable IAC.
Thank you.
Luke Penner for Director
My name is Luke Penner, and I’m from Manitoba, Canada. I have been involved in aerobatics for over 20 years, including the past decade in competition. I am entering my third season in the Unlimited category, flying the Extra 330SC, and I currently serve as captain of Canada’s Unlimited Aerobatic Team for the upcoming World Aerobatic Championships in New York.
My progression through the sport — from Sportsman and Intermediate in a Pitts S-2B to the Advanced category in an Extra 300L, and now Unlimited — has given me a deep appreciation for every level of competition. I have been a Transport Canada Class 1 aerobatic instructor for nearly 20 years, and I have had the good fortune to train hundreds of pilots in aerobatics and upset prevention and recovery while seeing firsthand how this type of flying improves safety and enjoyment in aviation. In addition to competing, I have served as an IAC judge for the past several years and as an interim IAC board member over the past year.
I am seeking reelection to the board because I want to continue contributing to the long-term health and growth of the sport that has given me so much. Aerobatics has shaped my career, my skills, and my community, and I see board service as an opportunity to give back in a meaningful way. I am particularly passionate about supporting the full pipeline of our sport — from grassroots participation and first contests, to developing future international competitors — and helping ensure that aerobatics continues to grow, evolve, and thrive.
