Executive Team
Owner, Co-Founder & CEO
Susan Horstman, Owner, Co-Founder & CEO
Susan Horstman is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cornerstone Aviation. Susan is truly a pioneer in the airline industry. Having caught the bug of flying while she was competitively surfing and had been in two world surfing competitions, Susan received her Private Pilot in Hawaii in 1970. She decided to move to Daytona Beach, Florida and completed her Bachelor’s degree at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. After building her initial commercial flight experience, Susan was hired by Flight Safety International and eventually became the Chief Instructor of the Cessna Citation training program. Having so much experience in the Citation, Cessna Aircraft Company recruited Susan to become the first female Flight Test Engineer in the Citation Experimental Department.
In 1978, Susan was hired by National Airlines as a First Officer on the Boeing 727 and became the airline’s first and only female airline pilot. Some years later National was acquired by Pan American World Airways and, once again, Susan became that industry giant’s first female pilot. While at Pan Am, Susan was based in Miami, New York and Berlin. Being a trailblazer for women airline pilots, Susan became a charter member of ISA+21, the International Society of Female Airline Pilots, helping airlines develop better working conditions for female pilots which included maternity contracts, dress codes, and more. Over the years after acquiring over 22,000 hours of flight time, Susan has also been active in the 99’s and Women in Aviation, serving on a variety of committees and speaking at may events nationwide.
Having such a vast experience in general aviation and at the airlines, Susan felt the need to give back to her local aviation community and, as a result, founded CSA. She is passionate about mentoring CSA students and loves to stay in contact with students throughout their careers. Susan has made CSA a family and she is proud to help students achieve their aviation aspirations!
Founder & Chairman
Christon Horstman, Founder & Chairman of the Board
Christon Horstman co-founded Cornerstone Aviation, with his mother Susan, and was the first CSA flight instructor. Christon began flight training at 16 years old and actually passed his Private Pilot check-ride on his 17th birthday. Over the course of the next year, Christon finished the rest of his flight training and received both his Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor licenses on his 18th birthday. In fact, the CSA training program is designed around this same training time timeline! While completing his undergraduate degree and M.B.A. at Westminster College, Christon flight instructed full time at CSA. At 20 years old, he was hired by ExpressJet Airlines as a EMB-145 First Officer and the youngest airline pilot in the company. Christon upgraded to Captain at ExpressJet immediately when he turned 23 (the ATP minimum age). Christon was then hired by United Airlines and has logged over 13,000 flight hours on airplanes including the B-777, B-767, B-757, and B-737. Christon currently flies the Boeing 777 Dreamliner from his New York base to destinations throughout the world.
President & COO
Martin O'Loughlin, President & COO
Martin O’Loughlin was born in Boston, and spent most of his youth in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. He graduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and was later commissioned as an Officer in the United States Navy. He became an FA-18 pilot, Topgun graduate, and flew dozens of other military aircraft continuously for 20 years. Martin was the most junior pilot ever to win the Michael Hoff Attack Aviator of the Year Memorial Award. As a USAF F-16 exchange pilot, he was his squadron’s and wing’s overall Top Gun multiple times. Later, the FA-18 squadron he commanded earned distinction in combat, and was the first Hornet squadron ever to win every competitive award in the same year for personnel retention, operational efficiency, aircraft maintenance excellence, ordnance handling expertise, and safety.
In his distinguished career, Martin was awarded the Air Force Airman’s Medal for Heroism, several Meritorious Service Medals, numerous Air Medals and Aerial Achievement Medals, and many combat, deployment, and personal awards. His career milestones include over 5,000 flight hours, 100 combat missions, and 800 carrier landings.
Martin left active duty to become the CEO of a multi-location FBO involved in the full spectrum of aviation activities – fuel sales; aircraft sales, maintenance, and rental; flight instruction; firefighting; and charter, operating more than 75 aircraft. He has had similar leadership roles with other FBO chains, aerospace companies, FAA-certified repair stations, and flight operations throughout North America and the Caribbean. Martin has founded or co-founded twelve companies, been a hands-on leader for several others as a C-Level executive, and served on university business school and charter high school Boards of Directors.
As an active pilot with over 7,000 flight hours in 100 models of aircraft, Martin has vast experience in aircraft modification, flight test, and certification. However, his greatest enjoyment comes from working with the flight instructors and aircraft technicians who are making the next generation of pilots. His recreational passions include flying, skiing, cycling, golf, and hiking in the mountains with his Golden Retrievers.
Student Services Coordinator
Liz Horstman
Liz was born in small town Idaho and moved to Salt Lake to attend Westminster College. After graduating from Westminster with a degree in Education, Liz taught in the Murray School District for 8 years. During that time, Liz also completed a Master’s Degree in Education from Westminster College. Having always been involved in the family business, Liz decided to officially join the CSA team and use her expertise in Education to help guide CSA students through their flight training program.
Asst. Chief for Compliance
David Leahy, Assistant Chief of Compliance
My name is David Leahy. I have been with CSA since 2012 and grew into the role of an Assistant Chief Flight Instructor. Before CSA, I flew bank checks via Part 135, a Twin Otter dropping sky divers via Part 91, a MU300 for a Real Estate Company in Myrtle Beach, SC Part 91, then for a Part 135 company flying a CE 560XL. Wanting to be at home with my new family, I now serve CSA as an Admin and as a Compliance Officer with the FAA. I enjoy biking, boating, being outdoors and working with VBA and Matlab.
Qualifications: CFI, CFII, MEI
Chief Instructor
Hiro Miura, Chief Instructor
My name is Hiro Muira and I am the Chief Instructor. I am originally from Shizuoka Japan but I have been in the United States since 1999. I attended Dixie State University and then graduated from UVU in Aviation Science. Besides flying, I love my son, Yuki. I also love to cook and play golf. Traveling is my other favorite hobby. I have been to every continent except Africa and one day I hope to travel to the International Space Station.
Qualifications: CFI, CFII, MEI, High Performance
Director of Flight Training SLC
Scott Olsen, Director Of Flight Training SLC
My name is Scott Olsen and I am the Salt Lake City Director of Flight Education for Cornerstone. I began my training with Salt Lake Community College in 2004. I completed my commercial at Cornerstone Aviation. I transferred to Westminster College to earn a bachelors degree. I began instructing with Westminster and ended up falling in love with flight instructing. In 2012, I turned down the airlines to flight instruct full time for my career. I was the Chief Instructor with Westminster for 5 years until the program closure in 2021. I have experience as a Beech 99 Captain for Alpine Air. I love to watch my students learn and excel and see their aviation dreams through to wherever that takes them. I love back country flying and spending time with my family. I’m excited to be a part of the Cornerstone team.
Qualifications: CFI, CFII, MEI, High Performance, Tail Wheel
Customer Service Manager
Diana Ocasio, Senior CSRD/Student Checkride Coordinator/VA SCO
My name is Diana Ocasio and I have been with Cornerstone since June, 2013. Most of my time was spent running the front desk at the Salt Lake City office, but I am currently the Senior CSRD/Student Checkride Coordinator/VA SCO and rotate between both offices. My favorite part of working at Cornerstone is meeting new people and learning their stories. I love to watch students progress and go on to realize their dreams of flying. Outside of work, I love dancing, BTS music (K-Pop), trying new food, and spending time with my fantasic kids!
Education Coordinator
Stacie Whitford, Education Coordinator
My name is Stacie Whitford and I am the Education Coordinator for Cornerstone Aviation. I work mainly with our high school programs and the Liberty University students, but love working with any new student interested in flying. I have spent my live in the aviation industry. Both of my parents retired from the airlines and my husband flies for a Southwest. I hold a bachelors degree in aviation management and worked in several capacities for Skywest Airlines, including Infight Manager. I also spent time at United Airlines doing HR in Salt Lake City. I was the Aviation Admissions Counselor for Westminster College. I had the pleasure of joining the Cornerstone Aviation family in 2018 to continue doing what I love most…getting people into aviation!
Bookkeeper In Accounting
Ann Mansell, Bookkeeper in the Accounting
My name is Ann Mansell and I joined the Cornerstone team in October, 2022, as a Bookkeeper in the Accounting Department. While I myself am not a pilot or a student pilot, I have been around aviation for many years, and I enjoy flying with others as a passenger when I get the chance. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my 4-legged kids, traveling, watching sports, and spending time in the sunshine.