July Virtual Luncheon featuring Robert Sumwalt, NTSB
Robert Sumwalt, retired Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board discusses aviation safety issues with Melissa Sabatine, president of the Aero Club of Washington
June 28th Virtual Luncheon, featuring Captain Joe DePete
We are pleased to present our June virtual luncheon, featuring Captain Joe DePete, President, ALPA
“Cultivating a Strong, Safe, and Diverse Airline Pilot Workforce”
Since January 2019, Capt. Joe DePete has served as the eleventh president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, which represents more than 59,000 professional airline pilots in the United States and Canada and is the largest nongovernmental aviation safety organization in the world. Capt. DePete acts as the Association’s chief executive, administrative officer, and spokesperson.
As ALPA’s president, Capt. DePete has emerged as a leading voice in the airline industry in matters of safety, security, and the future of the profession. Bringing the unique perspective of airline pilots, Capt. DePete deftly evolves discussion beyond identifying challenges to defining real solutions. By using personal experiences, current events, and real-life stories to stress the importance of dignity of work and collaboration within the industry, he is recognized for bridging the gap between industries that do not often find themselves on the same side of issues.
Aero Club Foundation Scholarship Recipients:
Dieudonne Kazzembe & Keiri Sanchez
April Virtual Luncheon with Julia Cooke
COME FLY THE WORLD
The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am
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.
March Virtual Luncheon with Gary Kelly, CEO of Southwest Airlines
Gary Kelly, CEO of Southwest Airlines, spoke to the Aero Club on March 10. He was interviewed by Karen Walker of Aviation Week.
October Speaker: Major General Mark E. Smith, Civil Air Patrol’s 24th National Commander.
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.
June Virtual Luncheon: Dan Elwell, FAA Deputy Administrator
Daniel K. Elwell is the Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Mr. Elwell was sworn in to office on June 26, 2017 following his appointment by President Trump. He also served as Acting FAA Administrator from January 2018 until August 2019.
Elwell previously served at the FAA as the Assistant Administrator for Policy, Planning, and Environment from 2006–2008. Most recently, he was Senior Advisor on Aviation to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. Earlier in his career, he served as a legislative fellow for the late Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).
From 2013–2015, as Senior Vice President for Safety, Security, and Operations at Airlines for America (A4A), Elwell was responsible for leading the advancement of commercial aviation safety and security excellence for major U.S. air carriers.
Prior to A4A, Elwell was Vice President of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) from 2008–2013. In this role, Elwell represented civil aerospace manufacturers and led policy development and advocacy for the civil aerospace manufacturing interests of more than 300 AIA member companies.
Elwell was a commercial pilot for 16 years with American Airlines, flying DC-10, MD-80, and B-757/767 aircraft. While maintaining his proficiency as an MD-80 Captain, he served as Managing Director for International and Government Affairs at American Airlines.
Dan earned his pilot wings at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Affairs. Lieutenant Colonel Elwell retired from military service as a Command Pilot with more than 6,000 hours combined civilian and military flight time in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Air Force Reserve, including combat service during Operation Desert Storm.