Larry McDonald is the Senior Technical Specialist (STS) for Flight Simulation Systems in the FAA’s Office of Senior Technical Experts (AIR-20). McDonald has more than two decades of flight simulator experience in both industry and government organizations. He has served the FAA since 2003 in several positions in which he represented the FAA at industry conferences on flight simulation and training issues, developed guidance, provided training, and established standards. Most recently, as National Simulator Program Manager, he was responsible for the overall authority for technical direction and oversight of the National Simulator Program (NSP) Branch within the Flight Standards Service.

As Aerospace Engineer, McDonald conducted oversight and standards development for the objective validation of simulators used for pilot training. As Front-Line Manager, he led teams of ASIs and engineers in the execution of the Flight Simulation Training Device (FSTD) oversight requirements as defined in 14 CFR Part 60 and participated in several international industry and government working groups to develop simulator standards for pilot training. During his tenure at the NSP, McDonald led the Part 60 rulemaking team to develop new simulator technical standards to support full stall training and upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) for airline pilots as mandated by Public Law.

Prior to joining the FAA, McDonald worked as Flight Simulator Engineer for Delta Air Lines. He served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and as a Police Officer at Glynn County Police Department. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Georgia Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s in electrical engineering.