Each year, NATA recognizes an outstanding array of individuals and organizations demonstrating superior service to the aviation community and advancing a safety-first culture in general aviation. There are 10 recipients in all, each introduced on the following pages, representing a broad and diverse spectrum of the general aviation community and the very best of NATA’s members and partners. The awards will be presented on November 18th during the NATA Aviation Business Conference at The Adolphus Hotel in Dallas. Visit www.nata.aero for more information on these awards and the Aviation Business Conference.
NATA William A. “Bill” Ong Memorial Award
Roger E. Woolsey
CEO
Million Air
Running one of the largest FBO organizations in the country and surrounded by airplanes every day, Roger Woolsey will tell you that he’s not in the aviation business.
“We’re in the first impressions business at Million Air,” he explained. “It’s like my wife says, when you go to a great restaurant, you first taste your food with your eyes. When you visit a city to go downtown or close a deal or visit a hospital, we are the first point of contact. We are the first impression, and how we treat you will go a long way in what you think of the city.”
But make no mistake. Woolsey has made more than an impression; he’s etched an indelible mark on the aviation world and has set a high standard that is both difficult to emulate and fitting to follow.
For his profound contributions, Woolsey has been named as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious William A. “Bill” Ong Memorial Award. NATA’s most prestigious honor, it was established in 1984 in recognition of the association’s co-founder, and is presented annually to individuals who, through a lifetime of achievement, have advanced the general aviation industry and exemplified Ong’s enduring commitment to service, safety, and advocacy.
“I’m still blown away by this honor,” he remarked. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard. It’s just overwhelmingly kind.” While Woolsey feels the magnitude of the honor, he is still very quick to shift the praise to the more than 1,000 men and women that he calls teammates across Million Air’s 35 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
“We have a saying at Million Air: ‘ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen,’” Woolsey explained. “This award is all about the group, the mentors who got me here, family members who have been so supportive. Not to be cliche, but it really does take a village, and some lucky strikes along the way. This is about team effort and what Million Air stands for. I look at our brand and how ordinary people create extraordinary results.”
Woolsey’s remarkable career in aviation spans nearly four decades, and his contributions to the industry—as a pilot, entrepreneur, and industry leader—have left a lasting impact. As the longest-tenured CEO of an FBO chain (which he acknowledges with a chuckle), Woolsey has led Million Air to become one of the most recognized names in business aviation. Under his leadership, the company has been named Best Large FBO Chain by Professional Pilot Magazine for 14 consecutive years. Beyond accolades, his influence is evident in the way he champions safety, business aviation, customer service, and mentorship within the industry.
“Roger Woolsey’s impact on aviation has been profound,” said NATA President and CEO Curt Castagna. “His entrepreneurial spirit, passion for safety, and commitment to excellence embody the values of the Ong Award and continue to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals. I join the Board in recognizing his visionary leadership and a deep commitment to advancing the aviation business community. I am glad to call Roger a colleague, an inspiration, and a friend.”
At just 19 years old, Woolsey became the youngest FAA Air Carrier Operator and went on to launch multiple successful aviation businesses, including Prestige Touring and American Jet International. In 2002, he acquired Million Air Interlink and has since shaped it into one of the most recognized brands in business aviation.
Along the way, Woolsey has picked up many lessons from inside the aviation world, but as importantly, from leaders across the business spectrum.
“There’s a lot of good R&D in our business. And that’s just not research and development, but what I like to jokingly say ‘rip off and duplicate’,” he commented. “So many people in different industries have taught us valuable lessons. Herb Kelleher was a mentor of mine at Southwest Airlines; there’s a little bit of Southwest Airlines on our DNA. There’s some Disney in us. And I owe a lot to another mentor, Horst Schultze, one of the founders of Ritz Carlton Hotels. And, of course, my friend and mentor Lou Pepper (last year’s Ong Award recipient and predecessor at Million Air).
“They’ve shown us that we’re not about selling jet fuel, but experiences,” he added. It’s one thing to create a powerful brand at Million Air, it’s another responsibility to maintain a culture across locations and a large workforce, a task Woolsey assumes with gravity.
“Of course, pilots and maintenance folks need to have the technical skills to succeed, but I’ve come to realize that a resume doesn’t necessarily match a person’s talent,” Woolsey stated. “We look hard for talent, but we’re also we’re looking for heart. We want that special ingredient that causes people to want to serve others. That’s what makes a culture unique and strong.”
“To achieve consistency and brand success across 35 locations, we ask ‘how do we get a common culture when we’ve got 35 different leaders that have 35 different histories and backgrounds?’,” Woolsey explained. “We celebrate differences, but we’ve had to work very hard to train and maintain our culture. Our Million Air University brings in all of our leaders, to teach and provide the professional tools in order for our culture not to be an accident.”
Like many in the industry, Woolsey caught the aviation bug at a young age.
“My father passed away when I was young, but he was a pilot and I think that he just passed that to me,” he said.
“Growing up, we lived down the street from an airport in Springdale, Arkansas. I would bicycle down to the fence and watch the planes, and at 14, I was lucky enough to start ‘wax on, wax off’ the airplanes. When I took one flying lesson I realized ‘okay, this is it!’”
Since then, Woolsey has become a seasoned aviator with more than 26,000 flight hours, holding an Airline Transport Pilot certificate, multiple type ratings, and an A&P’s mechanic’s license.
But looking back is not something Woolsey spends a lot of time doing.
“We’re very enthusiastic about the future, especially with some generations 2.0 in the business,” he explained. “My son is now a pilot. My daughter’s in the marketing department and my stepson’s a pilot. I learn so much from the new generation; I just want to leave the company and industry in a better place than where we found it.”
NATA Distinguished Service Award
Michael Grossman
Founder & CEO
Castle Aviation
Sometimes you just don’t know the magnitude of your impact on an industry until dozens of people remind you.
When Michael Grossmann was announced as the 2025 recipient of one of NATA’s biggest honors — the Distinguished Service Award – there was no shortage of messages from people far and wide.
“While the award was a complete surprise, I was floored by how many people have responded to the LinkedIn post and my Facebook post, even people that I haven’t heard from in many, many years,” Grossmann explained. “All of these people all of a sudden saying congratulations and well deserved.”
To know Grossmann and to understanding his impact, that magnitude of well wishes should not come as a surprise, as he embodies the award’s acknowledgement of “an individual or organization still active in general aviation on a regular, day-to-day basis and recognizes outstanding service and ongoing contributions to the industry.”
At the helm of Castle Aviation, the company he began 41 years ago, Grossmann has left an indelible mark on the industry through his decades of leadership, innovation, and steadfast commitment to advancing business and general aviation. Grossmann has been a driving force in the aviation community for decades.
Since founding Castle, located in Green, Ohio, he has grown the company from a single aircraft into a thriving passenger charter, cargo, and maintenance operation headquartered at the Akron-Canton Airport. Under his leadership, Castle Aviation recently celebrated the opening of a $10.5 million, 80,000-square-foot hangar and private terminal, positioning the company for continued growth and expanded service to Northeast Ohio and beyond.
“Michael Grossmann represents the very best of our industry,” said Curt Castagna, NATA President and CEO. “Through his leadership at Castle Aviation, his decades of volunteer service to NATA, and his commitment to giving back through initiatives like the Veterans Airlift Command, Michael has set an extraordinary example of professionalism, service, and dedication to the general and business aviation communities.”
Today, Grossmann has a team of 80 professionals with three primary areas of focus: charter, both scheduled and on-demand; maintenance; and of recent, FBO operation. He points out that charter and air cargo operations represents the majority of Castle’s operations, which is anchored by the company’s daily work with Purolator in Canada.
“We have at least five planes a night, Monday through Friday, fly to Canada and move overnight product from U.S. companies so Purolator can distribute throughout Canada for the next day,” he explained. “We’re also on-call for a lot of companies when they say ‘hey, we need to get something from point A to point B.’”
He added, “there used to be that old FedEx slogan that said when something absolutely, positive needs to be there overnight.’ We say,’ when it positively needs to be there now!’”
While Castle’s maintenance work was originally set up to support its own aircraft handing charter flights, the company expanded into retail maintenance and now has 28 professionals working with private owners and others.
Earlier this year, Grossmann saw the need at Akron-Canton for an additional FBO when one long-established company was bought out, leaving just one facility at the busy airport.
“I originally started to build a new hangar here just for Castle’s use because we had so many airplanes,” he said. “I started to think about a new FBO when it was evident, like at other places, it’s always good to have a choice and make sure the highest levels of service and competitive pricing are still there.”
Grossmann, too, is no stranger to NATA, having served the organization in several leadership positions.
“I was personally involved with NATA for probably 25 years. I started out on the air charter committee, I became chairman of the air cargo sub-committee, and then several people nominated to be able to be on the board,” he said. “In the air cargo business, I brought a new perspective to the board, even though the guys flying passengers were under the same rules and regulations.” He also was on several aviation rulemaking committees.
Grossmann took an interesting flight path to building Castle.
“I was born in Germany to German parents and that same year, I was carried across to the United States,” he explained. “We first settled in Buffalo and then moved to Youngtown, Ohio.”
But when his family moved to Kansas City in 1976, “I was not leaving Ohio, as I was a full-time firefighter and met my future wife there,” he added. “We did a Western migration, but this one was just 30 miles down the road, and here I am.”
This year also marks 46 for Grossmann behind aircraft controls. He took his first flying lesson on Saint Patrick’s Day in 1979 at the Youngstown Municipal Airport, and then moved through his instrument, commercial and multi-engine certifications. He started flying with a charter company out of Grove City, Pa., piloting a MU2, King Air and Navajo. Since 1979, he has accumulated over 20,000 flight hours.
He also flies a T-34 Mentor, which he says is probably the last plane he will fly until he retires from flying.
Grossmann was also bit by the entrepreneurial bug when he was laid up recuperating from an auto accident in August 1983, thinking “hey, you can run a business better than the guy you’re working for,’ so I started a medical transport business as I was still an EMT at that time.”
Only two years later, Grossmann pivoted and shifted his focus to charter. In 2023, Castle broke ground for its new 80,000 SF hangar/FBO.
Aside from creating jobs and operating a fleet, Castle Aviation is also proud to aid in volunteer efforts. Grossmann and his staff have serviced over 160 flights for the Veterans Airlift Command. Each flight is provided free of charge to a wounded United States military veteran or their families, resulting in reunions and specialized medical treatments that would otherwise be impossible.
“When I am called to duty, it is my pleasure to help these wonderful American heroes. These men and women, and their families, have fought so hard for our country, it is the least I can do,” he said proudly.
NATA Distinguished Public Service Award
Chris Rocheleau
Deputy Administrator
FAA
For someone who has spent his professional life straddling the line between the public and private sectors, one factor has remained constant for Chris Rocheleau: service—to country and to aviation.
Currently the Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Rocheleau is in his second stint at the FAA, with previous senior roles with the U.S. Air Force, National Business Aviation Association, and Transportation Security Administration.
For this tireless devotion to the nation’s aviation system and industry, Rocheleau has been named the winner of the 2025 NATA Distinguished Public Service Award, a special honor awarded by NATA’s Board of Directors and members that recognizes “outstanding public service and contributions to the industry.”
“Well, it was really surprising and humbling,” he said about learning of the award. “Those are the two words that keep coming to mind. But it certainly means a lot to me. You don’t do this kind of work for the awards, but when someone taps you on the shoulder and says, ‘Let me shake your hand and thank you for your work,’ it means a lot.”
Rocheleau was named the FAA’s Deputy Administrator in July 2025, after serving as Acting FAA Administrator since January of this year.
“Because I had been the transition executive between President Obama and President Trump, and then President Trump to President Biden, I knew that presidential transitions could be challenging but needed to be smooth,” he explained, “I understood the importance of a smooth transition, but also the importance of ensuring the services that FAA provides to the American flying public were as solid as they could be.”
Rocheleau previously served the FAA with distinction for over 20 years in multiple roles including Deputy Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety; Chief of Staff; Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy, International Affairs and Environment; Executive Director for International Affairs, and Director of National Security Programs, Emergency Operations and Investigations.
Before becoming Acting FAA Administrator, Rocheleau was Chief Operating Officer for the National Business Aviation Association, overseeing aircraft and flight department operations, as well as administrative, financial, and human resources functions. He was one of the first leaders of the Transportation Security Administration, and served as an officer and special agent with the U.S. Air Force, retiring from the USAF Reserve in 2010 as a lieutenant colonel.
“Chris has provided steady leadership during one of the most trying times for aviation, but he has also shown a genuine care for the people and communities our industry serves,” said NATA President and CEO Curt Castagna. “His deep knowledge of the industry and his ability to listen, bring people together, and keep safety at the forefront have earned the respect and trust of colleagues across government and industry. NATA is proud to honor Chris with this award in recognition of his dedication, character, and leadership.”
Rocheleau joins a recipient list that includes Congressmen Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), as well as former FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.
“As I looked through the other people who have received the award, it felt like maybe they sent the email to the wrong guy,” Rocheleau said humbly. “They are all true leaders in the industry and to be included in that group of professionals is meaningful and humbling at the same time.”
It was only nine days after he was sworn in as Acting Administrator that Rocheleau, and the nation, was rocked with a crisis. On the evening of January 29, a Bombardier CRJ700 airliner collided with a U.S. Army Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft.
However, having effectively managed past crises such as September 11th, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Maria put Rocheleau in a good position to lead the aviation industry through a very trying start to 2025.
“Obviously, the year started like none of us expected with the tragic crash at DCA and then subsequent ones in Philadelphia and Alaska,” he explained. “We also had a major outage, but as I told the (transportation) secretary, we just happen to have the experience of working through major emergencies at the agency. That didn’t lessen any tragedies, but it did help us manage through the challenges.”
Even before those challenges, Rocheleau came into the role with a fierce focus on safety as one of his priorities.
“First and foremost has been to make sure we move on this new traffic control system with the sense of focus and of urgency that it demands,” Rocheleau pointed out. “Second is to always keep an eye on how we can become more proactive and predictive when it comes to safety initiatives. And third, making sure that we keep an eye on the ball for new technologies coming into the airspace, whether it’s drones, AAM (advanced air mobility), or of course, commercial space operations.”
“But the one thing I would add for each of these priorities is good people—to make sure that our staff has the leadership and support they need to do their job every day,” he added.
The notion of people is a topic that Rocheleau strongly emphasized, especially those that have helped him along the way.
“A lot of leaders have taught and influenced me, but it’s not just the people above,” he said. “It’s also colleagues and subordinates. I continue to learn every day from them. I’m inspired by the energy that everyone gives, especially the young people and the technology that’s going to help us advance and manage our growth, whether it’s in commercial, GA, or new entrants. It helps me a lot to come in every day and know that I’m working with some fantastic people.”
While the unexpected may have defined the first several months of Rocheleau’s tenure with the FAA, there remains clear and sharp priories for the road ahead.
“I’m proud this year that we were able to get the MOSAIC rollout done. The team worked very hard on that, despite everything else we’ve had going on,” Rocheleau said. “We continue to work on modernization, and we started a very comprehensive review of safety initiatives.”
“But there’s a lot to be done,” he added. “I certainly have goals to continue, to get this brand new air traffic control system in place, get the controllers that we need, make sure we’re hiring safety professionals, and just continue the important work of the FAA.”
NATA Executive Airport Partnership Award
Cynthia Guidry
Director
Long Beach Airport
When you are situated in a city of 451,000 and in a county nearing 10 million, it may not be intuitive to use the word community to describe your surroundings. Yet that’s exactly the word that Cynthia Guidry uses.
As Director of Long Beach Airport (LGB), Guidry knows that an airport with heavy general aviation traffic thrives and is appreciated only when it’s a true part of the local fabric.
“We’re absolutely part of this community, whether it’s residents, pilots, or the many successful businesses at the airport,” she explained. “We’re neighbors and our job is to listen and bring everyone together. Even though this airport and its businesses bring a lot of economic value and jobs to the region, there are still concerns that we need to listen and respond to. We listen to residents, and we listen to the pilot community here. While we can never make everyone happy all of the time, sincerely listening is important.”
For her leadership and stewardship of the airport, especially in challenging times, Guidry has been bestowed NATA’s 2025 Airport Executive Partnership Award. The honor recognizes “an airport manager for outstanding efforts to nurture the relationships between aviation businesses and airport operators.”
Guidry has been at the helm of the nation’s fifth-busiest general aviation airport for six years, overseeing a full-time staff of 125. They handle a wide range of operations, topping 350,000 on an annual basis. The airport’s mix of GA and commercial activity—including piston, jet, helicopter, and flight school operations across its three runways—makes for very busy days leading LGB.
But she is quick to deflect the personal award in favor of team recognition.
“I may be biased, but I truly believe we have the best airport staff in the nation,” she said proudly. “This award is a reflection of our team trying to be a great community partner and bridging conversations among our residents, pilots, businesses, the FAA, and our city leadership. In fact, we recently conducted a webinar for the community that included all of these partners, just to make sure that everyone is being heard and respected.”
Guidry and her staff also feature a Business Partner Spotlight at every Airport Commission meeting, with the business featured in the airport’s monthly Business Partner Brief, which is shared with the airport tenant community.
That said, she quickly brings the conversation back to her team.
“We have some really talented individuals here at this airport, and they take on so much responsibility,” she added. “There’s a love and a passion for what they do. It’s evident that they listen to the community and take their requests and calls to heart. Our people are always proactively looking for ways to meet everyone’s needs. This is a team award, and that’s why I was a bit surprised to hear about the honor.”
With an education rooted in civil engineering, the Southern California native assumed the leadership role in Long Beach after serving as Deputy Executive Director for the City of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), focusing on major projects and planning improvements at Los Angeles International and Van Nuys airports. Previously, she held positions as Chief of Planning and Civil Engineer at LAWA, while beginning her engineering career in the Department of Public Works for City of Los Angeles.
“Right after starting at LAWA, I learned how great aviation really was. I had a general idea, but I soon loved it,” she said. “I was hooked on aviation.”
Not long after assuming her role at LGB, Guidry and her team faced a formidable foe: COVID.
“The pandemic brought many challenges and a lot of uncertainty,” Guidry stated, “but as a leader, I needed to set the vision for the airport in such a challenging time, especially as we were going through a major modernization program for our commercial spaces.”
“As a very busy GA airport, we’re a key part of the community and nation’s infrastructure,” she added. “While commercial activity was drastically down like it was for many airports across the country, our GA activity continued and remained robust. So, it was a challenging time, but we prevailed. We got through it as a team.”
Guidry’s leadership in difficult times was honed at LAWA during 9/11, a time that tested aviation and shook a nation to its core.
“You’re looking at that tragedy as a professional and the impact it had on our global travel, having to quickly pivot and focus on safety and security,” she explained. “But it was a personal ordeal as it was for all Americans. As employees and citizens, we said, ‘Hey, we’ve got to band together and be part of a solution.’ That spirit is what also allowed us to manage the COVID crisis here.”
California is also the flashpoint for the GA industry’s transition to unleaded fuel, and Guidry has had to manage the overlapping interests of the residential and pilot communities.
“Long Beach is one of the few airports in the nation that offers GA pilots two financial incentives/subsidies to support the transition to unleaded fuel,” she explained. “Through our Subsidized Aviation Fuel for the Environment (SAFE) incentive program and Going Green with Unleaded Gas (reimbursing pilots obtaining an STC to use unleaded fuel), I like to think we’re at the forefront of the issue as solution-focused.”
In reflecting on the award, Guidry believes airport managers must embrace diversity of thought with “different ideas and approaches to how we solve aviation issues. It’s important that we hear each other out, and I appreciate NATA’s contribution to that discussion.”
NATA Safety 1st Certified Line Service Professional Award
Hector Milian
Line & Ramp Services Supervisor
Jet Aviation
While most of us are busy with another of the night’s dreams, Hector Milian is already at it. Four a.m. is no stranger to Milian, Supervisor of Line and Ramp Services at Jet Aviation, a full-service FBO in Teterboro, New Jersey.
“I’m busy getting the shift ready,” he explained. “I’m looking at the plan for arrivals and departures. I’m checking to see if any maintenance is required, and getting the overall schedule ready for our 20 people. A big part of the early morning is simply putting the right people in the right positions for the movements of that day. A lot of coordination with everybody.”
Milian is known at Teterboro, one of the nation’s busiest general aviation airports, as a guy who gets it done, someone who sets a tone of teamwork, and a manager who can be called upon to do what it takes for clients and tenants.
For his service to clients and the industry, Milian has been honored with the NATA Safety 1st Certified Line Service Professional Award, given in recognition of “the positive impact they have on safety, service and business success.”
Milian was nominated for his calm professionalism in a high-demand environment, consistent leadership in balancing task execution with safety, and an unwavering commitment to fostering a strong safety culture that has earned the trust and respect of his entire team.
“I was shocked in hearing the news,” he explained. “I’ve been here for 26 years, and this was just crazy.”
Just because he starts the day at the same early morning time doesn’t mean every day will be the same.
“Oh, there’s a monkey wrench thrown at us every day,” Milian said. “From the moment we walk out the door, there’s already a mechanic or a pilot or truck coming in with a new issue, and we have to quickly adjust to stay ahead of the game.”
A New Jersey native, Milian came back to the Garden State after a stint in Orlando, starting with commercial operations there and then moving over to general aviation. His return started with a stay in Morristown before moving to Teterboro.
“It’s such a different ball game here than Morristown or even Orlando,” said Milian. “The amount of traffic was a big difference, and the amount of airplanes just keeps growing. You have to think out of the box, and we get to know our customers so well that we can anticipate their needs.”
Despite having nearly 100 operations on a given day, Milian makes it clear that a focus on safety is never an option.
“Safety is the first thing we talk about from the moment we walk in,” he explained. “It always has to be number one. I want my people to go home at the end of the day the same way they came in. If I see people needing a break before something goes wrong, I’ll tell them to take the time, then come back and get the job done safely. There’s a lot of trust and teamwork here.”
And what if one of those monkey wrenches is a big one? What about the challenge that just seems impossible? When the New York pressure ramps up?
“Remember,” he stated, “I grew up in Jersey City, so I know the attitude. Yes, we’re always respectful, but I know how to deal with New York!”
NATA Leader Excellence Award
Adam Cope
General Manager
Signature Aviation – DCA
There’s a common understanding in business and in life that it’s not the easy times that create personal and professional growth. Tough times that challenge your mettle and resolve teach the most valuable lessons of success and perseverance.
For Adam Cope, that occurred on one of the hardest days for all Americans: 9/11. It was a day that rocked this nation and shook our aviation industry, but it was also one that taught Cope valuable lessons and shaped the leadership skills he would need to handle another tragedy. One just this past January.
As General Manager of Signature Aviation at Reagan National Airport (DCA), Cope and his staff were called into duty after the tragic collision of a Bombardier CRJ700 airliner and U.S. Army Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. It was the nation’s deadliest air disaster since the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 in 2001.
For Cope’s steady leadership and stewardship that day and in the weeks that followed, he has been honored with NATA’s Leadership Excellence Award, given for “exceptional leadership, guidance, and mentorship, as well as a commitment to inspiring others, cultivating future general aviation leaders, and exemplifying the highest standards of excellence.”
“That evening, I was out working with the crew on the ramp, and somehow, by the grace of God, we missed seeing the collision,” he explained. “Then lots of chaos as we started to learn what actually happened. It was only minutes before we understood the scope of the tragedy, and our team swung into action.”
“The first order of business was getting the hangar immediately ready for emergency response operations and the triage plan,” Cope added. “They started bringing the floating pieces for the NTSB and FBI, so we could waste no time in clearing out the hangar. It took our team most of the night to get it done—but that’s kind of responsive and dedicated team we have.”
Indeed, Cope cites the team’s skill and commitment for capably managing the crisis over the next few days and weeks, but also tips his hat to preparation.
“Fortunately, we go through quite a few emergency-response planning exercises every year,” Cope explained. “We’ve had repeated disaster training drills; it’s amazing how much actually stays with you, knowing your role in these different scenarios. We were able to get right into action and help open the airport faster than I thought possible. I believe it was back in operation the next afternoon.”
“After that, it was coordinating the logistics and determining how the FBI, NTSB, FAA, and other officials could access the hangars without impacting our normal operations,” Cope explained. “Because of our planning, we were able to pivot and continue serving our clients. Even though there was still work to do on the investigation, we were able to have our hangar operations pretty much back up and running by March. But honestly, I wouldn’t say everything here is fully back to normal, yet. It’s going to take some time.”
Cope began his career with Signature in 1995 as a customer service representative, transitioned to line service technician in 1996, and was promoted to operations supervisor just two years later. His leadership talents and technical skills were recognized when Cope was named general manager of Signature’s DCA facility in 2024.
But it was that day 24 years ago that is etched on his memory – and his skill set.
“We all had to shut down and land the planes on 9/11,” he stated. “But the questions started to come in for us and virtually all GA airports around the country: is the airport going to exist anymore? Would there be general aviation here or anywhere anymore? We slowly started rebuilding from there, rebuilding Signature back up. Since 9/11, it’s been just a crazy whirlwind ride.”
Aviation is not just Adam’s job; it’s his personal passion.
“I love DCA. DCA is my home,” he explained. “When I was a little kid, I would ride my bike by the GW Parkway and come peek in this hangar. I caught the bug.”
Cope would pursue his personal love of aviation and become an accomplished aerobatic pilot and a passionate advocate for the sport. He actively competes in aerobatic competitions and serves as president of the Washington, D.C., chapter of the International Aerobatic Club. In addition, Cope is a contest director for events along the East Coast and is a certified chief judge, grading judge, and coach.
His lifelong passion to aviation and his commitment to excellence—both on the ground and in the air—make Cope an ideal ambassador of the industry and worthy recipient of the NATA honor.
NATA Future Leader Award
Connor Thoreck
Operations Manager
Signature Aviation – DCA
Connor Thoreck was relaxing at home on the evening of January 29 after a busy day as operations manager at Signature Aviation located at Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA).
“My phone started to buzz, and the texts started to come through. I knew something important was happening,” he explained. “I jumped off the couch, called in, and said ‘Hey, I’m coming in.’” It was more than just something.
Shortly before 9 p.m., a Bombardier CRJ700 airliner collided with a U.S. Army Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft in this nation’s deadliest air disaster since the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 in 2001.
Thoreck quickly went into action.
For his actions that evening and his leadership in the challenging days and weeks that followed, he has been honored with the NATA Future Leader Award, “recognizing an individual who has shown outstanding promise, passion, and professionalism within the general aviation community.”
“At first, we heard that there was a helicopter emergency landing on the runway,” Thoreck said, “but as I was driving to the airport, I saw fire trucks from every single department—city, town, county, you name it—all driving right past me into the airport. It was the largest amount of fire vehicles I’d ever seen in my entire life.”
Just 30 minutes after the original texts, Thoreck began to learn the real magnitude of what was unfolding.
“It quickly went from an emergency landing, to a crash, to a helicopter and airplane colliding.
That was the start of a very busy 24 hours,” Thoreck said.
That time was spent primarily clearing the hangars for salvage and investigations, as Signature Aviation immediately volunteered its space for ongoing recovery operations.
“There was a lot of coordination and working with the NTSB and FBI, getting the hangar prepped and meeting their needs,” he explained. “I think we’re lucky to have good relationships with these people; we know the local FBI and NTSB officials well, which definitely helped during this tough time.”
Thoreck is quick to shine the light on his supervisor, General Manager Adam Cope, for shaping his knowledge base and path forward.
“I have the most unbelievable mentor in Adam,” he said. “He knows that I ask a ton of questions, so I’m beyond grateful. I just try to learn everything I can about Signature and the job; I’m a sponge. Adam has taught me almost everything about the company; he’s been an amazing teacher.”
Thoreck arrived at Signature in October 2022, starting out as a line service technician. His talents and willingness to absorb everything he could about the company and operations were quickly recognized, as he was promoted to operations manager just two years later. In this role, he oversees three line technicians and four customer service representatives.
Before Signature, he worked at a boatyard in Portland, Maine, where, similar to his experience at Signature, he learned everything about that operation and seemed to work on everything. But the boatyard just happened to be located next to Portland International Airport, which fueled his interest in aviation.
“I watched airplanes overhead all day and fell in love with aviation,” he said. So when it was time to follow his fiancée to Washington for her new job in the region, he had his eye on aviation and began to explore DCA.
“I was riding my bike around the airport—because I love airports!—and saw Signature Aviation,” Thoreck said. “I looked it up and applied that day. A month later, I was a member of the team.”
Team was the operative word for Thoreck and his colleagues that fateful day in January.
“It’s really unique here. We are a family; we are all super close and very open,” he explained. “For many of us, that day was extremely emotional as everything unfolded right in front of us, but we also had a job to do. Obviously it was not a normal time, but we still had an operation to run, and we still had people coming in. The important thing was to be together and support each other.”
NATA General Aviation Service Technician Award
Duane Fowler
Lead Avionic Technician
Heritage Aviation
Duane Fowler is a busy guy at Heritage Aviation.
When asked if he saw some very good news via email, he replied: “I’ve been too caught up today to check email. Let me have a look in a bit.”
Only when he was able to find a minute and log on did Fowler learn, to his surprise, that he was awarded the 2025 NATA General Aviation Service Technician Award.
The honor is presented for “outstanding performance of a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic or radio repairman who has practiced his or her craft for a period of 20 or more years.”
Fowler was nominated by Tim Shea, the same Heritage executive who told him to check his email that morning.
In his nomination, Shea noted Fowler’s “exceptional technical expertise, steady leadership in elevating the team, and pivotal role in building Heritage Aviation’s reputation for avionics excellence.”
Located at Vermont’s Burlington International Airport (BTV), Heritage is an employee-owned aviation services company providing maintenance, avionics, and FBO operations.
As lead avionic technician, Fowler has been proud to call Heritage his work home for 20 years. And while he has a core focus on corporate avionics among other responsibilities, he gravitates to helping others and ensuring the company gets the job done whatever the need may be.
“When I’m not busy with a specific task, you can usually find me on the floor working with my colleagues as another set of hands or in a troubleshooting role,” he explained. “If somebody’s having a difficult time with something, I’ll usually get involved and say, ‘Okay, well, I’ve had a little bit of experience on it. Why don’t you try this?'”
“I’m happy to do a lot of coaching here, especially for our straight path A&P technicians,” he added. “I feel the A&P schools don’t go into a lot of detail into avionics, so I’m happy to teach what I know.”
Growing up in Vermont, Fowler always had a love of electronics, something he picked up from his master electrician father. By six years old, he was already tinkering with electrical and science kits. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force after high school, completing the entire technical school training package in half the normal time, while maintaining honors grades.
Fowler came to Heritage from a variety of roles inside aviation and in other industries, including a stop at Northern Airways in Burlington, where he handled repairs, installations, and ground support for Twin Otters, Fokker F27, and Shorts 330 commuter aircraft.
Asked what motivates him to keep at it after all these years, especially with an 80-mile round trip commute every day, Fowler was quick to say it’s the daily ability to figure things out.
“Many days, I’m just waiting for that person to come in the door and say, ‘I’ve got a problem.’ Okay, well, that’s what I’m here for,” he stated. “I love being able to reverse engineer reality and say, ‘This may seem impossible to do, but there’s a workaround for that, and here you go.’”
NATA FBO Customer Service Representative Award
Erin Schubert
Customer Service Manager
APP Jet Center
Customer service is in Erin Schubert’s DNA. It doesn’t matter if you’re flying a four-seat piston or one of the largest business jets, you’re going to get the same attention to detail and the same care.
“We have everybody flying in here, from the guy just going fishing in The Bahamas in his single-engine to the CEO getting off of a Gulfstream—and everything in between,” she said about her role at APP Jet Center, a full service FBO at Witham Field in Ft. Pierce, Florida. “Everyone is treated like our most important customer, because they are.”
For that single-minded devotion to service, Schubert has been named the winner of the 2025 NATA FBO Customer Service Representative Award, which highlights the “valuable impact of a Fixed Base Operator Customer Service Representative on the overall success of our industry.”
“I’ve never been about individual awards, as it’s always about our clients,” she explained. “It’s truly rewarding and satisfying when you can find opportunities to exceed a customer’s expectations. When you make them really happy and they say, ‘You’re the best. Thank you so much,’ it’s just a great feeling. I enjoy it because it means we’ve done our job well.”
Schubert’s supervisor, General Manager Chris Hambleton, had nothing but praise for her 13 years of contributions to APP and its clients.
“Erin has excelled in every task handed to her, raising customer service levels and expanding the location’s recognition,” Hambleton said. “Her efforts are illuminating, and clients and tenants reach out to her directly on a daily basis. She has embraced the job and our company’s vision.”
Schubert is a boomerang employee to APP, having departed for a maintenance company on the field, but it wasn’t long before she heard the call to return to APP.
“I left to try something different in the industry. While I did learn a lot of new information, I felt stuck in a little parts room over there counting nuts and bolts,” she said with a chuckle.
“The customer service position at APP came about, and I just love working with customers. It’s more exciting to me.”
Schubert was named customer service manager in March of 2025 and now oversees three CSRs. She credits the team and the culture at APP for enabling her success.
“We have a lot of great people here right now. We have a really strong team,” she emphasized. “A lot of our line technicians are pilots and are trying to grow in the industry. So, they are very passionate about it, and they service the aircraft as they themselves are flying it.”
During the busy season, Schubert states that APP can handle up 80 aircraft landing and taking off every day, but busy never tempers her focus.
“I always look for a way to make somebody’s day better,” Schubert stated. “The best feeling is when you turn around a tough situation for the client.”
NATA Excellence in Pilot Training Award
Paul Ransbury
CEO
Aviation Performance Solutions (APS)
For most private pilots starting out, and throughout much of their flying days, they are taught basic upset recovery skills—usually enough for them to have a cursory knowledge of how to handle the unexpected and pass a checkride.
Formal Upset Prevention and Recovery Training may not be on every pilot’s proficiency list, but as we are all lifetime learners, it’s definitely instruction to consider.
“Planning for worst case scenarios trains us for two things: how to recover from these situations and—as important if not more—how to avoid them,” explained Paul “B.J.” Ransbury, CEO of Aviation Performance Solutions (APS) in Mesa, Arizona. For more than 25 years and 180,000 trained pilots later, APS and its programs have been guided by a simple, yet powerful principle: “We Help Pilots Bring Everyone Home Safely.”
Ransbury’s fierce commitment to pilot safety, training, and proficiency has earned him the 2025 NATA Excellence in Pilot Training Award, recognizing “an individual or organization for outstanding contributions in safety, professionalism, leadership, and excellence in the field of pilot training.”
He was nominated for his leadership in creating an accessible UPRT program that equips pilots with the skills to recognize, prevent, and recover from inflight upsets, and for an unwavering commitment to advancing aviation safety.
“We see two journeys that our students take,” Ransbury said. “The first is to get the capability. Pilots get a mastery level of upset prevention or recovery training. But the real journey is their transformation over the three days. They are completely different pilots when it comes to everyday competency, awareness, and decision-making.”
Ransbury and his team have worked tirelessly to confront and prevent loss of control-inflight (LOC-I), aviation’s leading cause of fatal accidents. Under his leadership, APS has set the global benchmark for UPRT effectiveness, introducing the Every Pilot In Control Solution Standard to promote evidence-based, scalable, and operationally relevant upset training.
“Our bottom line is that we are saving lives rather than just meeting regulatory minimums,” Ransbury explained. “Our training principles are built on three layers of mitigation: awareness, prevention, and recovery. While teaching recovery is important, the most effective upset training program is really all about prevention—seeing the mental model and criteria come together well before an airplane upset. I do think that has been a piece that the industry has historically missed.”
“UPRT is all about being more effective in every flight,” Ransbury added. “From risk management awareness, aeronautical decision-making, and flight envelope awareness, it’s the nuance and the details of how the instructors are trained that really make all the difference in our program.”
It’s no surprise that the APS team operates from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, one of the world’s business general aviation airports, one that calls for the most heightened situational awareness.
APS’s expertise has also been recognized and implemented by a wide swath of aviation, serving a spectrum of needs and increasing levels of certification.
“Whether it’s at a flight school like the United Aviate Academy or working with Delta, United, or Fiji Airways on a licensing program, or even with the military and corporate executive flight departments, we are able to apply a level of discipline and competency to guard against the number-one threat in air safety: loss of control in flight,” Ransbury explained.
This need-to-have training is not just anecdotally accepted as an important element in pilot proficiency, it’s been specifically and successfully measured.
“Delta Airlines did a 5-million flight, 5-year study in partnership with APS, which saw its exposure to airplane upsets drop by a reported 50 percent through dedicated UPRT training, while other implementations around the world have seen no measurable difference. There really is a right way to do it,” he explained.
Ransbury brought an impressive aviation resume to APS, but it almost never happened.
“My dad was a pilot, and my uncle was a fighter pilot in Canada. And I thought, well, either I want to be a chiropractor like my dad, or I want to be a fighter pilot like my uncle. I thought the fighter pilot thing sounded a lot cooler,” he said.
Ransbury entered the military and was selected for jet training, went to ‘Top Gun’ school, and after 12 years of service, left to fly for the airlines, piloting the Airbus A320 out to Toronto. He is an 8-time Master Certified Flight Instructor, and volunteers as President of the Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Association (UPRTA) International, working with industry partners and stakeholders to elevate training standards and strengthen global aviation safety.
Ransbury was surprised and humbled by the award, but sees it as an important acknowledgement of the vital training that APS provides.
“I am just humbled and grateful and honored to be recognized by such a well-known organization as NATA,” he said. “It’s nice to see that folks are noticing the good work that our team here is doing to save lives.”
By Eric Blinderman
Eric Blinderman is a seasoned communications professional, and while he specializes in aviation, he has represented companies in virtually all business sectors. Eric led communications at AOPA for more than four years after holding senior roles at leading New York communications and marketing firms, where he directed communications strategy for several Fortune 100 companies.
When not at the keyboard, Eric enjoys making the most of his private pilot certificate..
