(BOISE, Idaho—November 12, 2018) Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Inc. (ASU), announced this week that Josh
Grier and Tony Tsantles joined ASU’s training team. Grier was named the new Director of Training and Tsantles in
the newest NVG Instructor. ASU has added nine new employees this year, six of whom have served in the military.
Both Tsantles and Grier have extensive military experience and training.
For more than 17 years, Grier worked in aviation serving with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army National Guard.
He earned a Masters degree in Aeronautical Science with distinction from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics. As a combat aviator, he served
in Afghanistan as a platoon leader in charge of AH-64D Apache attack helicopters. He also served in Iraq, Korea,
Guam, and Saudi Arabia.
“Grier is exactly the type of pilot that we wanted for our growing training program,” said former Army veteran pilot
and ASU Director of Operations Justin Watlington. “We train pilots and crew members from all over the world that
fly in a diversity of terrain. Grier’s military flying experience and deployments have given him vast experience
flying with NVGs. Our operators come to train for anything from simple civil aviation operations to complex search
and rescue missions. They will glean from Grier’s knowledge and experience in addition to the rest of our team.”
Tsantles retired from the Army, took two weeks off and joined ASU. Before joining the team, he was stationed in
Fort Drum in New York as an Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot and instructor flying UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
He served as an instructor for more than seven years. His experience also includes a deployment in South Korea
where he inspected systems and component replacements on Army Black Hawks and was a medevac flight crew
member.
The ASU training team also includes Army Aviation, combat veterans Dan Hutchison and Brad Brummett. Both are
highly decorated and served in Vietnam, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Hutchison has been flying for 50 years as of
August 2018.
ASU’s training program includes training pilots and crew members on initial, or recurrent training on night vision
goggles, training FAA inspectors, and customized training for specialized missions. ASU has trained pilots all over
the world and also conducted training classes in Boise, Idaho. ASU has both the fixed wing and rotorcraft FAA
inspector training contract. ASU has trained more than 6,000 pilots and crew members and more than 80 FAA
inspectors since the company launched the training program in 1999.
“At a time when the aviation industry is looking for experienced pilots, we are honored that some of our nation’s
finest, are joining our ranks after serving their country,” said ASU President and retired Army aviator Jim Winkel.
“ASU has a proud history of transitioning retired members of the military and active reserve and National Guard
members to our team. Our pilots have flown all over the world. They have flown in different environments,
landscapes, climates, and missions. This expertise is priceless and adds great value to our customers’ training
experience.”
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About ASU:
Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU), established in 1995 is a leading innovator in night vision imaging system
design, manufacturing, installation, certification, sales, training, and service. ASU serves customers around the
world with onsite training, cockpit modification, service, and support. For additional information call +1 208-426-
8117 or visit www.asu-nvg.com Our aviation community can look forward to a safer tomorrow as more advocates
for flight safety like the FAA receive NVG training and gain valuable insight into safe NVG flight operations.
