About Nicholas Pittler

Nicholas Pittler is a seasoned aviation executive with more than three decades of experience in aircraft leasing, maintenance, and technical operations. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Investment & Fleet Solutions at Willis Lease Finance Corporation, headquartered in San Francisco.

Nicholas began his aviation career in 1988 at United Airlines as a baggage handler. While pursuing his A&P certification, undergraduate degree, and later graduate studies, he advanced through a variety of technical and managerial roles at United, including engineer, mechanic, electrician, and maintenance supervisor. In 2001, Nicholas joined International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) as a Technical Manager, marking his transition into the aircraft leasing sector. He was appointed President of Daedalus Aviation Corp. in 2004, leading the company until 2011. From 2010 to 2014, he returned to ILFC as Vice President of Business Development, followed by a tenure at AerCap as Vice President of Technical Services. In 2015, he joined Willis Lease Finance Corporation, where he played a key leadership role in advancing the company’s investment and fleet solutions strategy across trading and marketing.

Nicholas holds a Bachelor’s in Engineering and a Juris Doctor (JD), bringing both technical and legal expertise to his work.

Outside of aviation, Nicholas has been happily married to his devoted wife, Nancy, since 1997. Together, they’ve raised four children, all active in athletics. Nicholas was deeply involved in their soccer careers, serving as coach for many of their teams and compiling an impressive 156–10–7 record an accomplishment he attributes to his coaching skills, though his kids may have a different theory.