VHB is pleased to welcome Chris Fernando as Regional Aviation Director for the Mid-Atlantic, bringing more than two decades of aviation planning, environmental policy, and emerging technology knowledge to support projects across the East Coast from his base in Raleigh, North Carolina. With extensive experience advising federal, state, and local agencies, Chris will help VHB clients navigate the rapidly evolving aviation and transportation landscape, advancing projects that balance innovation, sustainability, and regulatory compliance. His deep understanding of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), electrification, and environmental planning can help clients remain future focused while meeting today’s operational challenges.
Chris joins VHB with a proven track record in aviation modernization, having served as a consultant to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), NASA, multiple state departments of transportation, and several airports across the U.S. Throughout his career, he has led environmental and planning studies, AAM and UAS research programs, multiple strategic planning efforts and policy initiatives that have shaped the integration of current and future aviation operations into multimodal transportation systems. His consulting and teaching experience demonstrates his commitment to both technical excellence and the advancement of the aviation industry.
“Chris’s knowledge at the intersection of aviation planning, environmental policy, and emerging technologies will bring incredible value to our clients and our team,” said Lauren Triebert, Project Development Lead for Environmental Planning. “His leadership and forward-thinking approach will strengthen our ability to help communities, institutions, and industries leverage advanced air mobility to achieve their sustainability, safety, and modernization goals.”
Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management from Florida Institute of Technology, where he is an Adjunct Professor of AAM and serves as the Industry Liaison and Research at the ATLAS Lab. He is active in several industry organizations, including the Advanced Air Mobility Association, where he leads workforce development initiatives.
