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Team
Team Bios
It's oft been said that a career at STAR Flight is more of a lifestyle than a job. With all the training and educational demands, the State deployments, and the realities of working and covering for each other in a small program, it can be easy to lose the personalities behind the uniforms. Our constant focus on "scooping and swooping" leaves us really no time to get to know YOU, the emergency responders, nurses, practitioners, and the everyday citizens of Central Texas.
But we want you to know that behind the bright blue suits are personalities! People with families, hobbies, history, and lives. People that work hard, play hard, and love to help others. People that are...real. So, please take a look at the bios listed below of the people who are STARFlight.
Jim Spencer 
AKA: Coach
Position: Helicopter Pilot
Hometown: Sweeny, Texas
SF team member since: 08 December 1999
Prior expereince: U.S. Navy (career/retired), educator (secondary level, Naval Science)
Personal interests: Rescuing and caring for dogs and iguanas, restoring classic cars and tractors, playing my old sousaphone, learning to play the banjo.
Chuck Spangler
AKA: Colonel
Position: Helicopter Pilot / Safety Officer
Hometown: Austin, Texas
SF Team member since: 3 January 2006
Prior expereince: US Army Aviation, 1980 to 2006
Personal interests: Boating, skiing, boarding and general lake activities. Golf is my addiction. Love to travel and see different areas of the country. Biking and general fitness activities. College football.
Stan Wedell
Position: Director of Maintenance
Hometown: Girard, Kansas
SF Team member since: April 1994
Prior experience: 5 yr. USAF / 13yrs. Of commercial exper. / 1994-date SF
Willy Culberson
Position: Director of Aviation Operations
Hometown: Smithville, Texas - “Home of the Fighting Tigers”
SF Team member since: September 9, 1996
Prior experience: Master Army Aviator, Standardization Instructor for Apaches and Blackhawks
Lynn Burttschell
AKA - Santa
Position: Flight Paramedic / Rescue Crew Chief / Rescue Swimmer
Hometown: Giddings, TX
SF Team member since: March 2005
Prior experience: Lt. for Wimberley Fire Department, Field Supervisor for Wimberley EMS
Scott White
AKA: Scott & White
Position: Flight Paramedic / Rescue Swimmer / Helicopter Rescue Specialist
Hometown: Boerne, Texas
SF Team member since: March 2009
Prior experience: Professional firefighter and firefighter/paramedic with the Tacoma Fire Dept. in Washington state.
Personal interests: Water sports. Running. Chasing or chilling with my dogs.
Jim Jackson 
AKA: Tito
Position: Helicopter Pilot
Hometown: Altoona, PA
SF Team member since: February 2009
Prior experience: Military pilot of mix of rotary and fixed wing aircraft.
Personal interests: Spending time with family. Walking our two dogs. Various outdoor activities like soccer, mountain biking, etc.
Bruce J. Goss III
Position: Aircraft Mechanic
Hometown: Friendswood, Texas
SF Team member since: October 2008
Prior expecrience: US Army Blackhawk Helicopter Mechanic 5 years, Team Lead Mechanic for a government contractor 5 years
Personal interests: I brew my own beer at home.
Michael Self 
AKA: Mike the Mechanic
Position: Aircraft Mechanic
Hometown: Briggs, Texas
SF Team member since: 1997
Prior experience: U.S. Army aviation maintenance, civilian field maintenance
Personal interests: Gardening, woodworking, and dirt moving with my 1957, 2 door, hard top,11/4 ton dump truck.
Kenneth Thompson
AKA: Kenny
Position: Helicopter Pilot
Hometown: Cocoa, Florida
SF Team member since: October 2008
Prior experience: 20 year active duty U.S. Army Blackhawk Instructor Pilot with 3,600 hours flight time who retired
1 September 2007 as a Chief Warrant Officer Four.
After retiring from the Army he worked for Air Methods Corp. for one year in Perry, FL and Stuart FL as an EC 135 Pilot (2007-2008).
Personal interests: Spending time with his wife and dogs, flying radio controlled helicopters and gliders and playing saxophone.
Patrick Phillips
Position: Flight Paramedic / Helicopter Rescue Specialist / Rescue swimmer
Hometown: Dallas, TX
SF Team member since: October 2008
Prior experience: Patrick was employed by Austin / Travis County EMS Special Operations prior to his arrival at STAR Flight.
Personal interests: Spending time with family and being outdoors.