Here at Executive Flight Training and Services we embrace the world of general aviation for one reason, we love to fly.

Our Managing Director Carson Willis has served as our Chief Pilot since 2017 and is a CFI, CFII, MEI with more than 5,500 hours of experience. Carson began flying in 1995 and was hired with a regional airline flying the Beech 1900 at the age of 22. He left the airline industry as a Captain on the CRJ 200/700 in 2007, but his passion for flying remains. He continues to train new students, develop & mentor our CFI’s and share his love of aviation. Carson is also a Wealth Advisor with Pinnacle Financial Partners in Raleigh, NC.

David is a Gold Seal instrument, single (land and sea) and multi-engine flight instructor who has been flying since 1998. He is an FAA FAASTeam Representative, a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight and a Young Eagle pilot volunteer for EAA Chapter 1114 in Apex. In 2010 he was selected as the EAA Outstanding Chapter Coordinator for Young Eagles. He holds instrument and advanced ground instructor certifications and has taught aviation ground school at Wake Tech Community College. His previous company, Wildon Software, provided initial support for the Operation Fly NC program. David, an NC native, lives in Cary. (See Gleim CFI Directory)

Gene is a dedicated flight instructor (CFI, AGI) and also a member of our administrative staff as the Secretary of the board of Directors. Gene has over 35 years of flight experience and more than 4,500 hours with a history of membership in military flying clubs all over the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and even Guam.

Joshua is a North Carolina Native who was raised in southeast Raleigh near what is now known as Fuquay Angier airfield, a short grass strip. His first flight was at 8 years old in an old wooden, tandem seat Aeronca Champ. As soon as the plane left the ground, he screamed to have the pilot land. On short final however, he got over his fear, and fell in love with aviation. He swept hangars in exchange for rides in old WW2 trainers, and some cool modern aerobatic planes. He decided to pursue a career in aviation in the fall of 2018. With only 1 hour in his logbook, he started part 61 training, and in late 2019, he obtained his Commercial ASEL. Now, as of spring 2022 he is a CFI with over 800 hours dual given. He is also a Medivac pilot for fixed wing operations at local hospitals, as well as a charter captain for a local 135 operation. Josh enjoys challenging pilots young and old to exceed their own expectations. He always tells everyone he quit working for a living when he started flying.

Sean moved to Raleigh in March of 2022 to join the staff at Executive Flight Training. He has previously worked and flown in Oklahoma and Arizona. He is Commercially single engine and multi engine rated with his CFI and CFII certificates. Sean also works for SkyWest Airlines.

I'm a Penn State grad that worked as a Computer Engineer for the first 30 years of my life. I decided it was time to fulfill my teenage dream. So, I quit my job and focused on getting a pilot certificate. Then I realized I needed my instrument rating to really fly the skies. Soon after, other CFI's started whispering in my ear "You really should be a CFI". I've been fortunate to fly many types of planes (C172, C182, C337, Kodiak, warriors, BE55, Maule) from coast to coast. I am looking forward to training the next set of safe pilots!

Flew with my dad, who is a private pilot, here in Sanford for several years back in the early 2000’s and enjoyed taking the stick and flying for a bit. Joined the Navy to see the world, 10 years total with 6 years being a U.S. Navy Diver with 4 deployments. Later stationed in Hawaii, 2009 began taking flight lessons while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in legal studies. Completed my solo the day before I deployed to the south pacific for 6 months. Once I got back, I got right back in it and got my PPL. Stationed in San Diego in 2012 I still few for enjoyment. After leaving the Navy, I eventually took a military contract job in 2017 as an HRT (High Risk Training) Instructor at the Underwater Egress Training facility in Elizabeth City, N.C. for the Coast Guard. Over the course of a 4-year time I trained thousands of pilot and boat crew members on how to safely escape from a sinking helicopter or boat. As part of a 16-man team I had the position of Lead Instructor for a lot of classes. Toward the end of working as an HRT Instructor I instructed members of Seal Team 6 and the FBIs Weapons of Mass Destruction response team. While working in Elizabeth City, I got wind that several coworkers were taking flight lessons, and they found out I was a pilot, at this point I had not flown in several years. They were asking me lots of questions, and it got me to thinking about getting back into flying. I immediately pursued my Instrument rating with the G1000, then began my Commercial training. I had to take several months off from flying because my twin boys were born, then I got back into it to finish up my Commercial. Once my commercial was done, I immediately started on my CFI. As soon as I got my CFI my wife and I moved back to Sanford, which is both of our hometown, to get help from the grandparents for our twins and for me to flight instruct.

Chris began his aviation journey when his Father gave him the controls of a C172 at age 5. In 2006 he earned his PPL shortly after college in Vermont. After taking a long break to work in the corporate world, he decided flying was his true passion and it was time to get back in the saddle. Chris then earned his Instrument, Commercial, Multi-engine, CFI, CFII and MEI ratings. He instructs full-time and has experience flying Piper, Cirrus, Cessna, and Diamond aircrafts. Chris is a 3rd generation pilot in his family as his Father and Grandfather were both Airforce pilots. Chris now resides in Apex, NC.

Mark received his first flying lessons as a 38th birthday gift from his wife who was tired of hearing about wanting to fly ever since watching Sky King as a kid. Jan thought this would get it out of his system. She claims she hasn't seen him since. In 2012 Mark moved to North Carolina after 20 years in Colorado, where his teaching included mountain flying in the Rockies. He has been a volunteer pilot with Angel Flight, Lifeline Pilots and Pilots & Paws and is am aviation attorney as well as a commercial pilot and CFI/CFII.

Dan started flying as a student in 1998 and is an instrument rated private pilot who also holds a certificate of professional photography from the New York Institute of Photography. Dan served as the President of EFTS from incorporation until January of 2013. He currently resides in the Tacoma, WA area and continues to work with EFTS through online collaboration and the occasional transcontinental flight. Dan currently flies his Bonanza F33A out of Pierce County, "Thun Field" in Puyallup, WA.