2022 JULY LUNCHEON
With Guest Speaker Rich Santa
President of National Air Traffic Controllers Association
July 26, 2022
Marriott Marquis — Independence Salon — 901 Massachusetts AVE NW, Washington, DC
11:30 a.m. – Check-in & Reception
12:00 p.m. – Luncheon
2022 JUNE LUNCHEON
With Guest Speaker The Honorable Pete Buttigieg
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation
June 29, 2022
11:30 a.m. – Check-in & Reception
12:00 p.m. – Luncheon
Tables and Single Seats Available
2022 MAY LUNCHEON
With Guest Speaker U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation
May 4, 2022
12:00 noon – Check-in & Reception
12:30 p.m. – Luncheon
Tables and Single Seats Available
November 16, 2021
12:00 noon – Check-in & Reception
12:30 p.m. – Luncheon
Capital Hilton Hotel
16th & K Streets, NW, Washington, DC
All attendees at this luncheon are required to be fully vaccinated or have had a COVID test in the past 72 hours. Masks will be required in the common areas such as the lobbies.
Required to have a college degree, speak two languages, and possess the political savvy of a Foreign Service officer, a jet-age stewardess serving on iconic Pan Am between 1966 and 1975 also had to be the right height (between 5′3″ and 5′9″), the right weight (between 105 and 140 pounds), and the right age (under 26 years old at the time of hire). Cooke weaves together the real-life stories of a memorable cast of characters, from small town girl Lynne Totten, a science major who decided life in a lab was not for her, to Hazel Bowie, one of the relatively few Black stewardesses of the era. Cooke brings to light the story of Pan Am stewardesses’ role in the Vietnam War, as the airline added runs from Saigon to Hong Kong for planeloads of weary young soldiers straight from the battlefields, and their participation in Operation Babylift—the dramatic evacuation of 2,000 children.
Gary Kelly, CEO of Southwest Airlines, spoke to the Aero Club on March 10. He was interviewed by Karen Walker of Aviation Week.
Major General Mark E. Smith leads CAP’s more than 63,000 members across the United States in fulfilling the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary’s congressionally chartered missions of Emergency Services, Cadet Programs and Aerospace Education, in addition to the organization’s steadily increasing role in America’s Homeland Security as the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force.
NAA announced that Major General Charles Bolden, USMC (Ret.), was selected as the recipient of the 2020 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy for “… his impassioned commitment to public service in aviation and aerospace as an aviator, astronaut, and leader and his dedication to excellence for the advancement of all humanity.”
Established by NAA in 1948 to honor the memory of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the trophy is awarded annually to a living American for “…significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States.” One of the most important, historic, and visible aerospace awards in the world, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy reflects a timeline of the most innovative inventors, explorers, industrialists, and public servants in aeronautics and astronautics.
“I can’t begin to thank the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy selection committee for making this prestigious honor possible,” said Bolden. “As this honor continues to sink in, I am humbled and feeling even more the effect of the ‘imposter syndrome’ as I think of the many true heroes of aviation who preceded me with this award. This is an incredible honor and I really look forward to trying to live up to its legacy and inspire many future Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy winners.”
“The Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy is our greatest individual honor,” said NAA President Greg Principato. “When you take into account Charlie Bolden’s career and commitment, he truly embodies what this award is meant to recognize. In every aspect of his career he has served causes and missions greater than himself. His example will inspire future generations.”
Bolden will be presented with the Wright Trophy at an Aero Club of Washington event in 2021.
The Aero Club of Washington is pleased to announce it will present its prestigious Donald D. Engen Aero Club Trophy for Aviation Excellence 2020 to Michael Quiello later this year.
Mr. Quiello is known throughout the aviation community for his vast knowledge and expertise in industry as well as extraordinary leadership and longstanding commitment to working along-side industry colleagues and government regulators to seek solutions for aviation safety. He is known for his keen ability to inspire others to work toward the shared goal of developing measures to continuously strengthen the commercial aviation system. Mr. Quiello started his career with Delta Air Lines in 1981 where he continued his service for 28 years in several leadership positions including the role of vice president of safety, security and environment. He then joined United Airlines in 2009 as Vice President of Corporate Safety where he was responsible for managing all aspects of safety including training for the airline.
In addition to his safety roles, both at Delta and United, from 2014 to 2016 Mr. Quiello was the industry co-chair for the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) program and from 2016 to 2020 the industry co-chair of the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST). Most recently, Mr. Quiello was instrumental in leading CAST to develop and publish a consolidated list of key safety elements for aviation organizations to monitor during this period of dynamic change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a joint statement from Airlines for America (A4A), Cargo Airline Association (CAA), and Flight Safety Foundation, they noted, “Throughout Michael’s professional career in aviation, both in the public and private sectors, he has established himself as the consummate leader in promoting safety for the traveling public and airline employees. Aviation safety worldwide has been elevated through his tireless efforts to develop safety enhancements that are critical to aviation being the safest mode of transportation on earth.”