Gen. Jean-Paul Palomeros (see photo), chief of staff of the French air force, has become director of the European Air Group, based at RAF Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, for a two-year term. He succeeds Lt. Gen. Aarne Kreuzinger-Janik, commander of the German air force.

Bill Gerstenmaier (see photo), NASA associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, has received the Von Karman Lectureship in Astronautics award, given by the Washington-based American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics. He was recognized for his leadership in human spaceflight, culminating in the space shuttle and International Space Station programs.

Bernd Munzenmayer has become senior sales adviser for Pro Star Aviation, Londonderry, N.H., supporting new Sales Director Clark Gordon. Munzenmayer is a founder of Pro Star. Julie Weber has been promoted to VP from senior director of people for Southwest Airlines.

USAF Col. (ret.) Sean Frisbee has been named VP at San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based AME Unmanned Air Systems. He was F-22 program director.

Michael Sammartino has been named VP-government affairs at Metron Aviation, Dulles, Va. He was director of systems operations at FAA.

Ted Lin has been named director of marketing for Asia at New York-based Guggenheim Aviation Partners. He was VP of DVB Bank.

Samuel Hill has joined the Strategic Advisory Council for Bye Aerospace of Denver. He is senior VP-sales and marketing at Honda Aircraft Co.

The fact that the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business is on the fast track in the Middle East is a no-brainer by now.