John Michael Maris

Born in London, England on March 10, 1958, John Michael Maris was the youngest child of parents Michael and Lina. Of Greek ancestry, like his older brother and sister, Nicholas and Sophia, John was born a Canadian as his parents had emigrated to Canada after the Second World War, and became Canadian citizens.

John’s interest in aviation began early, starting to fly when he was 13, flying his first solo flight on his 17th birthday. After earning a B.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering at the Imperial College of Science and Technology at London University in 1979, John moved to the United States for further studies. By the time he moved there, he had received Airline Pilot and Instructor’s Licences in England.

In the U.S., John earned a Master of Aeronautical Science degree in 1982 and a Master of Aviation Management degree in 1983, both with Distinction from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) at Daytona Beach, Florida. During that time, he added FAA seaplane, helicopter and flight engineer ratings to his qualifications.

In 1983, John enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, married Julia, and they incorporated Marinvent Corporation, which John currently serves as President and CEO. John also incorporated Maris Worden Aerospace in 1986, with famed Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot, USAF Colonel (Ret.) Alfred Worden, to pursue the commercial development of several of John’s patents.

John received his primary flight training at 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School Portage La Prairie in Manitoba, and then earned his pilot’s wings at 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1985. Upon graduation as a pilot, Lieutenant Maris was awarded the coveted Golden Centenaries Trophy as the top overall student.

Lieutenant Maris was consequently offered his choice of posting, choosing to fly the Lockheed CP-140 Aurora. He then completed Maritime Operations and Training Courses with 404 Squadron, CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia. Promoted to Captain, he graduated at the head of the course in 1985 and was posted to CFB Comox, British Columbia. There with 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron, he was promoted to Aircraft Commander and then Crew Commander, leading his crew to capture the 1988 O’Brien Trophy as the champion Canadian Anti-Submarine Warfare crew.

Captain Maris then attended the United States Air Force Test Pilot Course at Edwards Air Force Base in California, graduating in 1989 with highest grades. He then served four years as Project Officer and Experimental Test Pilot at the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment at Cold Lake, Alberta, where he ran the CC-130H (T) Tactical Transport Tanker program, and also performed the acceptance of the CC-150 Polaris aircraft into service with the Department of National Defence.

John’s next posting was to the Canada Space Agency where he served as the Mobile Servicing System Control Equipment Manager for the International Space Station. He had responsibility for systems engineering of the Mobile Robotics Control Station (MRCS), the Artificial Vision Unit, and Operations Control Software for the Canadian robotic systems used on the International Space Station. John led a team through the MRCS requirements definition and concept design stages. These included the design and conduct of evaluations performed by NASA astronauts for the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), better known as the Canadarm2, the robotic arm of the International Space Station.

In 1995, holding the rank of Major, John Maris retired from the Canadian Forces to devote full-time to Marinvent Corporation. The goal of the company was to develop procedures and technologies to increase the efficiency and reduce the risk of aeronautical programs. John conceived the concept of the certified electronic aviation chart, and the associated Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) technology. The EFB is an electronic information management device that helps flight crew perform flight management tasks, replacing paper-based material in a traditional pilot’s carry-on flight bag. The technology was purchased by Boeing/Jeppesen in 2002, and is now the de facto world standard in use by more than 150,000 pilots and organizations.

In 2004, the Marinvent-Jeppesen partnership received the prestigious Canadian American Business Achievement Award for “leading a joint enterprise demonstrating: strong business growth, remarkable innovation, noteworthy contributions to the local communities, and the capacity to provide the partners with a global advantage.”

Marinvent has owned two airborne test-beds that have been used on numerous programs for the certification of advanced avionics. John completely redesigned the cockpits of both turboprop aircraft, a Piper Cheyenne and Piaggio P-180 Avanti for this specialized flight test role. Marinvent has been involved in flight test programs in Canada, the United States and in New Zealand.

John’s role in flight test programs was recognized by the Canadian Business Aircraft Association’s 2006 CBAA Industry Support Safety Award “...for the safety gains achieved through human factors enhancement, systems engineering, and flight test services.” He also received the CBAA Award of Merit “...in recognition of an outstanding contribution to aviation.”

Awards received by John Maris include a 2005 Aviation Week and Space Laureate presented at the Smithsonian Institution for his work in “helping the transition from paper in the cockpit to a digital flight deck.” In 2006 his company was recognized as Québec’s Aerospace Small Business Enterprise of the Year. In 2013, Marinvent became the first corporation to receive the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada James C. Floyd Award for aerospace achievement.

In 2017, John received his Ph.D. from ERAU, earning his doctorate in Aviation Safety and Human Factors, and was named Canada’s Defence Executive of the Year by Canadian Defence Review magazine. In 2018 he was granted Affiliate Professor status at Concordia University in Montréal. Dr. Maris sits on a number of the university’s boards and is also on the Centre technologique en aérospatiale board.

He has taught post-graduate university courses in aviation-related subjects in both English and French. Notably, the majority of Bombardier C Series aircraft flight test personnel were put through a gruelling two-week standardization course given by John. He is well-published in academic literature and has authored several NASA publications and numerous patents.

Dr. Maris is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Fellow of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute He is an Associate Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots; an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is a Member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) and is a Member of the Québec Order of Engineers and a certified Program Management Professional.

In over 45 years John has so far logged over 6,300 hours as a pilot. He is a Transport Canada Delegated Test Pilot and Flight Analyst with a Type Rating Exemption which allows him to fly all fixed-wing aircraft for experimental purposes.

Jim Quick, President and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, has stated,

“John is one of Canada’s aerospace industry leaders – a highly innovative and accomplished pilot and entrepreneur, an ambassador for Canadian aerospace on the world stage, and one of the leading voices for small business within the Canadian aerospace community. His achievements have directly contributed to the advance of Canadian aviation’s growth and global impact.”

John Maris and his wife, Julia, make their home in Beaconsfield, Québec, and are parents of a daughter, Stephanie, and a son, John Michael.