Duncan Aviation has announced that it has expanded its aircraft design teams with new hires and internal promotions across its Lincoln, Nebraska; Battle Creek, Michigan; and Provo, Utah, facilities. Misty Brookson and Christine Bonk have joined the Lincoln team as lead designers, Lauren Hawkins and Lauren Burkhardt have been promoted to associate designers II in Battle Creek, and Amie Jensen has been promoted to lead designer in Provo.
Duncan Aviation says that the continued growth of its design team strengthens the full-service support available to customers planning an aircraft refurbishment. The company says that its designers help customers transform their ideas, preferences, and operational needs into a cohesive design that is attractive, functional, and appropriate for the aircraft environment. Designers work closely with customers to understand how they use their aircraft and what they want the completed cabin to feel like. They then help guide decisions involving seating, cabinetry, flooring, sidewalls, headliners, lighting, fixtures, fabrics, leathers, finishes, and other details that contribute to the overall cabin experience.
Because the designers are part of Duncan Aviation’s integrated refurbishment teams, they can collaborate directly with sales representatives, project managers, engineers, technicians, and production teams throughout the project. This coordination helps customers make informed decisions while keeping the overall design, project scope, aircraft requirements, and production process aligned.
The designers
Misty Brookson | Lincoln, NE
Brookson joined Duncan Aviation as a lead designer in April 2026. She earned a degree in Interior Design from Scottsdale Community College in Arizona and previously worked in kitchen and bath design. Before entering the design industry, she spent 26 years in the dental field, first as a dental assistant and later as an office manager.
Brookson begins each project by listening carefully to the customer and understanding their vision. She sees her role as a bridge between inspiration and execution, helping translate a customer’s ideas into a design that can be successfully completed and enjoyed for years to come.
Christine Bonk | Lincoln, NE
Bonk joined Duncan Aviation as a lead designer in January 2026. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Design with a major in Interior Design from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and brings approximately nine years of experience in high-end residential design, primarily supporting remodels and new construction.
Her residential design experience helps her create aircraft interiors that feel comfortable, inviting, and personal. Bonk approaches each project as though she were designing her own aircraft and strives to provide every customer with the same level of care and attention she would expect herself. She also enjoys exploring new ideas and creating designs that feel distinctive while remaining thoughtful, functional, and timeless.
Lauren Hawkins | Battle Creek, Michigan
Hawkins began her Duncan Aviation career in 2021 as a parts runner in the Battle Creek warehouse. She later advanced to a warehouse/burn cage specialist position before transitioning to the design team as a design assistant and eventually being promoted to associate designer II.
She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design and Media Arts from Southern New Hampshire University in April 2026, graduating with highest distinction. Hawkins also has experience in graphic design and traditional art, including creating album artwork for local bands and completing commissioned paintings.
Having grown up with both of her parents working at Duncan Aviation, Hawkins developed an interest in aviation at an early age. She enjoys working directly with customers, exploring new ways to bring their ideas to life, and seeing their reactions when the completed aircraft rolls onto the ramp.
Lauren Burkhardt | Battle Creek, Michigan
Burkhardt joined Duncan Aviation in 2024 as a design assistant at the company’s Lincoln facility after earning a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design from Western Michigan University. In July 2026, she returned to Michigan to join the Battle Creek team as an associate designer II. Burkhardt first learned about Duncan Aviation through friends enrolled in Western Michigan University’s aviation programme and discovered that her creative background and design education translated naturally to aircraft interiors. She enjoys guiding customers through the design process and helping bring their ideas together into a cohesive interior that reflects their individual style and vision.
Amie Jensen | Provo, UT
Jensen began her career with Duncan Aviation in Provo, Utah, in February 2020 as a finish/cabinet assistant. After gaining hands-on experience working on aircraft interiors, she discovered a passion for the creative side of the industry and began pursuing a career in aircraft interior design. She further developed her design knowledge through onsite experience and her education at the Interior Design Institute. Jensen was recently promoted to lead designer at Duncan Aviation’s Provo facility.
Jensen’s experience on the shop floor gives her a unique perspective as a lead designer, combining an understanding of the creative vision with firsthand knowledge of the craftsmanship required to bring each design to life. She enjoys working closely with customers to transform their ideas into unique, personalised aircraft interiors that balance creativity, functionality, and craftsmanship.
