Mary Nichole Harshbarger

Director of Safety Management Systems (SMS)
West Star Aviation

Mary Nichole Harshbarger is the Director of Safety Management Systems (SMS) at West Star Aviation, where she leads the strategic implementation of SMS across a workforce of over 3,000. With prior leadership roles at Sun Air Jets, XOJET, and Clay Lacy Aviation, she has developed and managed key safety programs such as FOQA, ASAP, IEP, and ERP. Her work has contributed to securing top-tier safety certifications including FAA SMSVP, IS-BAO Stage III, and Wyvern Wingman Pro. Mary actively engages with industry groups like NBAA, NATA, and the Flight Safety Foundation, where she serves on the Business Advisory Committee. She is known for promoting a proactive safety culture grounded in transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement.