“I want to share my knowledge with the next generation of pilots and help aspiring aviators achieve their career goals. I do this by developing online courses that enhance and accelerate student learning.”
True Course Simulations founder Ray Bédard brings more than four decades of aviation expertise, developed through his service in the Royal Canadian Air Force and his roles as a university faculty member and advisor.
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Founder and President
Raynald is a seasoned aviation educator, technologist, and entrepreneur with over three decades of experience in military service, higher education, and simulation-based training. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1980, followed by Master of Science in Engineering Acoustics and Electrical Engineering from the US Naval Postgraduate School in 1987. He also completed professional military education at the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in 1995.
Ray’s early career was distinguished by 14 years of service as an Air Navigator in the Canadian Armed Forces, operating aboard the CP-140 Long Range Patrol Aircraft, before transitioning into roles in marketing, sales, and eventually academia.
From 2000 to 2016, Raynald held multiple faculty positions at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of Hawai’i at Hilo, including Assistant and Associate Professor roles in the College of Aviation.
Known for his innovative approach to teaching, he integrated low-cost flight simulation into aviation education, developing an Airbus A320 procedures trainer, an Air Traffic Management laboratory, and numerous training scenarios using Microsoft Flight Simulator and Lockheed Martin’s Prepar3D. His work earned numerous honors, including multiple Faculty of the Year Awards, the “Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology,” and the College of Aviation Researcher of the Year Award. He also pioneered an online Instruments Flight Rules ground school and helped create a Minor in Unmanned Aircraft Systems for ERAU’s Prescott campus.
Since 2010, Ray has served as Founder and President of True Course Simulations, LLC, a company specializing in immersive flight training devices, online courseware, and virtual flight training environments. Under his leadership, the company has advanced the use of Virtual Reality for pilot training, furthering his mission to make aviation education more accessible and effective.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Ray is deeply committed to community service, notably as a founding director of Boys to Men of North Central Arizona, a volunteer organization dedicated to mentoring and supporting boys in their transition to manhood.
Chief Executive Officer
Brett is an accomplished aerospace and defense industry professional whose career bridges military service, intelligence analysis, corporate leadership, and higher education. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Global Security and Intelligence Studies with a focus in Mandarin Chinese, a Master of Aeronautical Science with a specialization in Aviation Management, and a Ph.D. in Aviation Business Administration—all from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Brett’s professional experience includes serving as a Counter Proliferation and Advanced Weapons Analyst for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, a Space Operations Officer in the United States Air Force overseeing the command and control of Milstar and Advanced EHF satellite constellations, and Director of Sales and Marketing for an aviation marketing corporation, where he led global marketing initiatives for major aircraft manufacturers and airlines.
In academia, Brett has taught at both Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as an Adjunct Professor of Management, and at Yavapai College as an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Economics.
A licensed private pilot with high-performance and complex endorsements, Brett is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and maintains working proficiency in Mandarin Chinese.
Since 2018, Brett has served in an executive capacity at True Course Simulations, where he has led the company from a single military client to the deployment of our technology on a global scale.
With a unique blend of operational, analytical, and business expertise, Brett matches his global perspective with his drive toward innovation.
Director of Customer Success
AJ Smith brings extensive experience in aviation education, higher education advancement, and leadership development. With a career that spans philanthropy, teaching, and innovative training solutions, he is dedicated to expanding access to aviation and STEM education while supporting organizational growth and success.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Business Administration with a focus in General Management and a minor in Environmental Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Prescott), as well as a Master of Science in Leadership with a focus in Leadership Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Worldwide).
AJ’s professional background includes leadership roles in fundraising and development at both Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Northern Arizona University. At NAU, he served as Director of Development, raising more than $18 million in philanthropic support for the College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences, the Honors College, and Cline Library. At Embry-Riddle, he advanced from Alumni Relations to roles as Major Gift Fundraiser, Director of Development, and Director of Philanthropy, where he built strong donor and alumni networks and advanced key institutional priorities. Currently, he serves as Director of Customer Success at True Course Simulations, helping bridge the gap between academic learning and hands-on flight training through immersive technology.
In addition to this work, AJ is an Adjunct Professor of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an Adjunct Professor of Leadership at Yavapai College, teaching courses in management, organizational leadership, and business.
Outside of the office, AJ has experience in natural resource management and public service, including roles as a Forestry Technician in Timber Sales, Seasonal Crew Member with the Conservation Corps, and Bomber Loader for Phos-Chek fire suppression operations. AJ is a Rescue Diver and Wilderness First Responder, and a Lifetime Member of both the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA).
Director of Global Business Development
Glen is a dynamic, multi-talented aerospace and education professional who joined True Course Simulations (TCS) in 2023. As our Director of Global Business Development, he brings over three decades of unparalleled experience across the public and private aviation, business, and technology sectors and is responsible for identifying new opportunities, nurturing client relationships, and executing TCS’s strategic business initiatives.
Glen’s passion for aviation is complemented by a strong academic and practical background. He holds a Master of Aviation (MAv) with First Class Honours from Massey University in New Zealand, where his research, published in the Journal of the Council of European Aerospace Societies, focussed on the integration of immersive technologies as an adjunct to traditional flight training.
As a seasoned pilot, Glen’s experience is both broad and deep, covering commercial charter aviation and flight instruction. He holds a commercial pilot licence (CPL) in addition to instructor endorsements and is qualified in operate and teach VFR and IFR flight by day or night, in both single and multi-engine aircraft.
Glen’s career is defined by a unique blend of skills. His diverse background includes leadership, technical, and consultancy roles within the armed forces, intelligence, and aerospace communities in both the UK and New Zealand. This extensive experience has built a solid technical foundation that complements his business acumen and makes him exceptionally skilled at managing complex projects.
Director of Operations
Ken’s lifelong passion for aviation began in the 1970s as a U.S. Army flight operations specialist and graduate of the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy which provided him with the foundation for his lifelong connection to aviation.
Following his military service, Ken spent 35 years in IT technical operations and project management, ultimately serving as IT Manager and Director for multiple city and K-12 school districts during his career.
After relocating to Prescott, Arizona, and preparing for retirement, Ken’s love for aviation led him to an exciting new opportunity. He joined True Course Simulations in its early stages and played a pivotal role in the development of the VR Immersive Flight Simulator. Ken has dedicated the years since then to perfecting the simulator’s hardware and building processes, expanding the platform to include new versions and multiple aircraft types.
A private pilot himself, Ken brings leadership, deep technical expertise and a true love of flying to his work.
General Manager
Kyle began his aviation journey at an FBO in New England where he worked as a Flight Line Technician, gaining hands-on experience in aircraft marshalling, refueling, ramp operations, and crew support, while pursuing flight training, eventually earning his private pilots license.
This interest in aviation led Kyle to Arizona where he attended and graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Business Administration with a concentration in Airport and Airline Management. During his time at Embry-Riddle, he was an active member of the Aviation Business Networking Club and Sigma Chi Fraternity, where he gained professional skills and made connections that lead to his start at True Course Simulations.
Kyle joined True Course Simulations as an intern during his junior year of college, contributing to the production of immersive flight simulators and assisting in the development and production processes of Immersive Flight Simulators.
Today, Kyle continues to bring his passion for aviation and technical expertise to support the company’s mission of delivering high-quality immersive flight training solutions.
Director Technology
Cannon, our Director of Technology, graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2024 with a double Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics (with a Minor in Aeronautical Studies) and Cyber Intelligence and Security.
In addition to his academic qualifications, Cannon also holds a fixed wing Commercial Pilot License – with Instrument Rating – and has logged 390+ flight hours, including 250 hours as Pilot-in-Command.
Cannon combines extensive manned aviation experience with advanced technical expertise. His flight training and education at Embry-Riddle have given him a strong foundation in instrument operations, decision-making, and aviation safety. He applies this expertise at True Course Simulations by integrating aeronautics knowledge with innovative simulation technologies to create effective, secure, and immersive training systems for the modern aviation industry.
Technical Operations Coordinator
John serves as the Technical Operations Coordinator at True Course Simulations, bringing a unique blend of military aviation expertise and technical systems knowledge to the team.
John is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering with a Cybersecurity track from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
His previous employment with the U.S. Army included roles as an Electronic Warfare Systems Integrator and UH-60 Maintenance Test Pilot. This background provided him with extensive experience in complex avionics systems, flight operations, and technical troubleshooting under demanding conditions.
John holds a Commercial Pilot Rotorcraft License with Instrument and S-70 type rating, reflecting his commitment to aviation excellence and safety standards. His comprehensive understanding of the technical and operational aspects of aviation systems fuels his desire to modernize flight training through the use of emerging technologies.”