What was your career path to your current role?
I served as a legislative aide for Kansas Senator Nancy Kassebaum, who spearheaded the passage of the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994, and majority counsel to the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. After that, I joined the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) as general counsel and became its CEO in 1996 before coming to NBAA as president and CEO in 2004.
What are your top priorities, main goals, and initiatives for NBAA over the next year?
Our CLIMBING. FAST. advocacy initiative is marking its first year, so we are celebrating the progress we’ve made so far and looking at what is next for this campaign. It’s critical for us to tell the story of business aviation’s many societal benefits – from driving opportunities for today’s workforce, to leading sustainability innovations, to our ambitious plan to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. You will see some more exciting news about what’s next for this at NBAA-BACE.
Of course, we’ll continue to remain focused on other longstanding priorities, including access to airports and airspace, continually enhancing business aviation’s already strong safety record, focusing on attracting and retaining tomorrow’s industry leaders, and supporting technologies that drive efficiency in the national aviation system.
What themes or topics will be the focus NBAA-BACE this year?
NBAA-BACE is more than a meeting – it’s a moment that brings the entire business aviation industry together. The event will be focused on the intersections of our industry’s most important issues: innovation, sustainability, safety, and workforce development.
Attendees will have the chance to see the latest aircraft, hear from FAA’s administrator and other key officials, the lawmakers who wrote the FAA bill passed by Congress, and executives from the companies revolutionizing the next generation of aviation. This year, we will also have a session on how AI can be used in the aviation field, and several events within the event dedicated to maximizing safety.
What are the key objectives and goals NBAA has set for NBAA-BACE 2024?
Our goal is to have our entire industry working together to shape the future of business aviation. We’re excited about the speakers, the technologies, the sessions, and the networking opportunities we will have at this year’s show. We will give attendees unparalleled opportunities to learn, connect, and be inspired about today’s opportunities and tomorrow’s promise. We are also proud to be recognizing the visionary leadership of our industry’s foremost heroes, including two pioneers from Bombardier who helped create a new market segment for business aircraft, and flight attendant Sydney Ann Bosmans, who saved the lives of two passengers after the aircraft she was working in crashed earlier this year, resulting in the tragic loss of two crew members.
What can attendees look forward to?
Along with the newest aircraft, the latest technologies, and the foremost government leaders who will be with us at NBAA-BACE, we are pleased to introduce a new, interactive space called the Flight Deck, located on the exhibit floor.
It will feature an exclusive new panel-and-discussion series that will gather some of the industry’s most prominent figures and experts for their compelling perspectives on the hottest topics. In aviation, the flight deck is commonly known to be where important information is shared to guide analytical thinking and critical decision-making. In a similar way, the new NBAA-BACE Flight Deck will put a spotlight on the intersection of leadership, technology, and the operating environment.
new interactive space called NBAA-BACE Flight Deck at the show this year
What trends do you think will be important in the next 3-5 years?
The march towards certification for a new generation of advanced air mobility technologies is clearly at top of mind for many in our industry, with so many incredible companies who are innovating in this space to set a course for a net-zero future. The FAA reauthorization bill passed by Congress and signed into law earlier this year opens the door to establishing the infrastructure necessary for AAM’s widespread adoption. Some of the world’s leading companies – Electra.aero, Joby Aviation, and Lilium – will be at NBAA-BACE to showcase their latest concepts and innovations on the show floor at our Emerging Tech Pavilion.
Of equal importance, sustainability is more than just a buzz word — it’s a priority— and it goes hand in hand with innovation. For our industry, that means not only advanced air mobility and electric, hybrid, and hydrogen-powered aircraft, but also the latest efforts to expand sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, availability, and use.
This includes new types of partnerships and policies we have seen come to fruition in recent years, including the new FAA reauthorization law, tax credits, the Farm Bill that Congress is debating, and the new Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus.
What do you see as business aviation’s main challenge in the next 5 years?
Business aviation faces concerning projections forecasting a significant shortage of skilled workers in the years ahead. We will need hundreds of thousands of aviation professionals with diverse skill sets in the aviation workforce of tomorrow. That is why NBAA is committed to investing in the industry’s future workforce and supporting young people with career development and networking opportunities, like the NBAA-BACE Career Fair, the show’s Collegiate
Connect event, a networking hour and workshop, and convention content created by the NBAA Young Professionals group.
What message would you like to convey to the business aviation community regarding NBAA’s vision for the year ahead?
Business aviation plays a central role in driving job creation and economic development, contributing US$250 billion to GDP and supporting 1.2 million jobs. Equally important, it connects communities across the country and helps companies of all sizes succeed.
At the same time, we are innovating at a rapid pace, led by a commitment to reaching our ambitious sustainability goals. This year’s NBAA-BACE will shine a light on all of this, making it the most powerful business aviation event of the year.
What advice would you give to someone interested in starting a career in business aviation?
I would want them to know that the business aviation community strives to be open, inclusive and supportive of anyone interested in starting a career in this industry. It really is a community – not just a job or even a career, but a sector in which a person can combine a passion with a profession. With that passion in mind, I would encourage them to seek out mentorship and networking opportunities, like NBAA’s Young Professionals Council, where we work hard to provide an opportunity for young people to meet each other and share their experiences to network and grow. NBAA-BACE brings all of this together, with several networking events where young career professionals can learn about the opportunities in the industry.
