ASQ 0511 - In Memorial
ASQ 0511 - In Memorial
Gregg Monaco
The section is shocked and saddened to convey the news that our Section Chair, Gregg Monaco, passed away early Wednesday morning, 14 December 2016. The cause was a heart attack brought on by the norovirus infection that he had. As recently as the Monday before, Gregg had prepared the board meeting agenda for use at Wednesday's board meeting, kiddingly excusing himself from the meeting due to a work colleague sharing the norovirus.
The funeral was held noon, Sunday, 18 December 2016, at Miller's Funeral Home, Woodbridge, VA 22192, with a sizable presence of Northern Virgina ASQ Section members attending.
Gregg's Memorial Service Program
The section will make a contribution in Gregg's name pursuant to the family's wishes; those wishing to join with us can use the "Donate" link below. If you have questions or wish to make payment other than via PayPal, contact our Treasurer.
Gregg became active in our section in 2010, making a presentation entitled "Aviation Mishap Investigation" at our October 2010 Section meeting.
On the passing in February 2010 of our then Section Chair Larry Wilkins Gregg stepped in and filled Larry's role as Education Chair. He volunteered to serve as chair-elect for the 2015 board and became chair this year.
Gregg provided the brief biographical sketch below for his 2010 presentation to the section membership:
- Gregg Monaco learned how to fly during his final days at Indiana University and vectored his focus from an MD-PhD track in cardiology to 10 years with the US Air Force. Following 2 years of flight training, he was initially assigned to the B-52 Wing at Minot AFB, North Dakota. This was followed by flight testing the B-1B bomber and acceptance into the SR-71 Blackbird program.
During his Air Force sojourn, Gregg was trained in TQM (Total Quality Management) in conjunction with his duties as a Flight Safety Officer. In Flight Safety, Gregg investigated a number of incidents ranging from routine physiological episodes to Class A mishaps – a total destruction of an airplane and/or fatality. As an added benefit, he had the opportunity to attend Motorola University in the new concept of Six Sigma and had Bill Smith as one of his mentors. As a result of a “ramp hold” on several aircraft scheduled for a test flight one Friday, the universal quip amongst the flight crews was “How much tax payer funded jet fuel did we convert into noise without flying”. This led to cocktail napkin calculations at the Officers Club, enriched by a Saturday morning trip to the Squadron to check performance data, with a Monday presentation to the Commander to reposition all the aircraft for an annual $50 million fleet fuel savings by decreasing taxi and idle engine time for the fleet. Of course, the airplanes got moved!
Following the Air Force, Gregg entered the aviation insurance industry as an underwriter. He quickly attained his Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation. From a quantifiable foundation, he researched and established data-driven rates for computing premiums on aircraft hulls. Historically, aviation insurance falls into a category called “A-Rated” which means an underwriter thinks of a number and shares that premium number with a broker representing an aircraft operator ranging from Farmer Fred through corporate fleets to airline operators. His efforts put his employer far ahead of competitors when the California Insurance Commission decreed aviation insurance would be “Filed Rates”. This large project resulted in his Six Sigma Master Black Belt designation. As an underwriter, Gregg had Board of Director approval to insure risk exposures up to $300 million.
He relocated to Northern Virginia shortly before the Millennium as a result of family concerns and has focused on information technology and quality applications.
Gregg recently joined CSC as a Principal in September and is one of their practicing Master Black Belts in Lean Six Sigma for government clients in both classified and unclassified venues.
He continues to hold a Commercial Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor and Instrument Instructor, Advanced Ground Instructor, and Instrument Ground Instructor licenses. He is also certified as a computer network engineer and instructor in multiple operating systems.
Gregg holds advanced degrees and certifications in Aeronautical Systems Safety Engineering, Master’s in Management and Administration, MBA, and an MBA with a Technology Management specialization. He has published numerous articles dealing with flight safety, aviation insurance, quality thinking and application, and several training guides in computer networking.
Through all his adventures and experiences, Gregg is most proud of his son.
Larry Wilkins
Larry Wilkins, who served the section twice as Section Chair and for many years as Education Chair, passed away Saturday morning 4 February 2012 at Reston Hospital.
Larry abruptly resigned in early January 2012, requesting that he be kept informed of the section's activities while he was incapacitated. His fight with cancer was short.
His son reports that ASQ meant a lot to him.
Larry's family plans to have a funeral with a graveside service on Wednesday, March 21st at 1:00 PM at the Arlington National Cemetery, followed with a reception at his house in Herndon.
In lieu of gifts or flowers, the family is requesting donations to the American Cancer Society. If you are interested in joining the contribution the section board is planning to make in Larry's name, please use our payments page and select the option to make voluntary donations to the section.
If you wish to donate by credit card. please use the comments box to provide several convenient times on multiple days for our Treasurer, Mike Coleman, to contact you to arrange a mutually agreeable time to accept your credit card information over the phone.
If you prefer to donate by check, indicate so in the comments box and send a check to the address indicated on the web page.
We will accept donations up to our section meeting on 15 February, and you can choose to make your donation in cash, check or via credit card at that time.