ATCA Selects Chairman Sam Graves to Receive 2026 Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award
Alexandria, Va. —ATCA today proudly congratulates House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) on being selected to receive ATCA’s highest honor, the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award.
Chairman Graves will be honored on September 29 during an evening award soirée at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., site of the permanent home of the trophy.
Established in 1986, the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award recognizes individuals whose achievements span more than one aviation discipline and who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to aviation safety. The award is dedicated to the memory of Glen A. Gilbert, one of the “Fathers of Air Traffic Control,” who in 1935 helped develop the first air traffic control system by creating a communications framework to track aircraft en route and reduce collision risk.
“Chairman Graves’ leadership exemplifies the very spirit of the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award,” said Stephen Creamer, ATCA President and CEO. “His tireless advocacy for aviation safety, infrastructure modernization, and the men and women who operate and maintain our National Airspace System has had a profound and lasting impact.”
Chairman Graves, who has announced that he will retire after the end of this term, his 13th, is only the third member of Congress among the 37 recipients of the award, joining former House T&I Committee Chairmen Norman Mineta (honored in 1996) and James L. Oberstar (honored in 2005).
“I am humbled and honored beyond words to receive the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award”, said Chairman Sam Graves. “Growing up with a small airport on my family’s farm, aviation and flying have been part of my DNA my whole life. I have been truly blessed to carry my love of aviation into my congressional career and to ultimately chair the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Passing the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 – which included the first ever title in law dedicated to general aviation – providing substantial investments in modernizing America’s air traffic control system, and continuing our work to improve the safety of our aviation system have been such rewarding highlights of my time as Chairman and of my life, and I can’t thank ATCA enough for honoring me with this distinguished award.”
In leading the House T&I Committee, Chairman Graves has been instrumental in advancing policies that strengthen the aviation system, support workforce development, and ensure long-term operational excellence. As one of the most influential aviation advocates in modern Congressional history, his leadership was critical in securing passage of the landmark FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 which directed meaningful improvements to aviation safety, innovation, and system resilience.
Chairman Graves is a lifelong resident of Missouri’s Sixth Congressional District, spanning from the Missouri to the Mississippi River and covering more square miles than nine U.S. states. As a licensed and accomplished pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings and a longtime advocate for general aviation (GA), he brings a rare combination of operational experience, industry insight, and legislative leadership to his work. The House General Aviation Caucus, which he co-chairs, is one of the largest in Congress, now totaling nearly 240 members. His commitment to aviation extends beyond policymaking to a deep appreciation for the professionals and communities that rely on a safe, efficient, and modern airspace system.
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 secured funding authorization for the agency through 2028. The Act’s highlights include the first title devoted strictly to GA needs, air traffic control workforce expansion, and an increase in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding from $3.35 billion to $4 billion annually, with a focused priority on local and regional airports. Last year, in the aftermath of the tragic mid-air collision of PSA Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Chairman Graves was instrumental in providing $12.5 billion as a critical first step in the work to build a Brand New Air Traffic Control System – a top priority for government and industry.
To learn more about the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award, including a list of past recipients, please visit this page here. To learn more about the trophy, please visit the National Air and Space Museum webpage here.
About ATCA
ATCA, also known as the Air Traffic Control Association, represents the U.S. industrial base that designs, develops, deploys, and maintains the world's largest and most complex air traffic management system. With over 100 corporate members and 2,000 individual professionals, ATCA this year is marking its 70th year as the premier forum for collaboration among industry, government, and academia to advance air traffic control technology and operations. ATCA members develop innovative technologies critical to National Airspace System safety, operational efficiency, U.S. economic strength, global aviation leadership, and high-quality job creation nationwide.