Our Leadership
Captain Garth Thompson - Chair
Captain Garth Thompson is a 30-year United Airlines pilot currently Denver-based on the A320. He was a former and current council representative before his election to the UAL-MEC Master Chair. His past service includes MEC-level Related Carrier Review (RCRC), Merger, and National Affairs Steering committees. Locally, he was the Denver Strike Chair and Grievance Committee member. Garth is married with three adult children and resides in Colorado.
Captain Brian Noyes - Vice Chair
Captain Brian Noyes joined United Airlines in January 1995. He is currently a 787 Captain based in IAH. Brian served ALPA in several roles including as the ALPA-I Flight Time Duty Time Chair and as a member of the Reduced Crew Operations Committee, Co-Chair of the IFALPA Fatigue Management Working Group, the UALMEC System Schedule Committee’s (SSC) FRMS Working Group Lead, an FAR 117 subject-matter expert, PBS trainer, pairing production subcommittee member, and as a member of the Central Air Safety Committee (CASC) serving as the Chair of the Crew Rest Oversight Committee. Brian and his wife Jenifer live in Houston, Texas.
First Officer Paul Ryder - Secretary
First Officer Paul Ryder, a Newark-based 757 First Officer, is serving his first term as MEC secretary. F/O Ryder previously served two terms as ALPA’s national resource coordinator (NRC) facilitating ALPA staff and resources to support members and pilot groups. An ALPA member since 2004, Ryder has also served on the national education committee, chaired the Fee for Departure Committee, and served on ExpressJet’s pilot-to-pilot (P2P), pilot mentor, and joint strategic planning committees. Ryder previously served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps including conducting missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Captain Andrew Minarcik - Treasurer
Captain Drew Minarcik began his career with United Airlines in November 2006 and is now a Houston based 737 Captain. He previously served on both the MEC Retirement and Insurance Committee and MEC Pilot Compensation Committee prior to his election as United MEC Treasurer in December of 2022. Drew and his wife J.J. reside in The Woodlands, TX.