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2026 Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award Recipient

Congressman Sam Graves, (R-MO), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

ATCA is very proud to present its highest honor, the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award, to Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024, which directed meaningful improvements to aviation safety, innovation, and system resilience.

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).

Chairman Graves is a lifelong resident of Missouri’s Sixth Congressional District, spanning from the Missouri to the Mississippi Rivers 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 that he leads 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 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.

The Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award is dedicated to the memory of one of the recognized “Fathers of Air Traffic Control” and honors the lifelong achievements of an individual in the field of aviation. Glen Gilbert was a visionary who, along with Earl Ward, founded the U.S. air traffic system and dedicated his professional career to its improvement. The Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award is on permanent display in the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum in Washington D.C. and is inscribed with recipients' names. 

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What? Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Soiree - food, drinks, networking, award ceremony honoring Chairman Sam Graves
When? Tuesday, September 29, 2026 - 7:00 p.m to 10:30 p.m.
Where? National Air and Space Museum, Independence Ave., Washington, D.C.
How? Sponsorships and tickets are available above
  • 2025 - Michael P. Huerta, FAA Administrator
  • 2024 - Nicholas E. Calio, President & CEO, Airlines for America
  • 2023 - Teri Bristol, Founder, Bristol Consulting, LLC
  • 2022 - Massimo Garbini, CEO, ENAV; ATM Executive Board Member, Frequentis
  • 2019 - Daniel K. Elwell, Acting FAA Administrator
  • 2018 - Linda Hall Daschle, Acting FAA Administrator; President, LHD & Associates, Inc.
  • 2017 - Richard H. Anderson, CEO, Northwest Airlines; CEO, Delta Air Lines
  • 2016 - Paul Rinaldi, President, NATCA
  • 2015 - Sid Koslow, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, NAV CANADA
  • 2014 - Monte Belger, Acting FAA Deputy Administrator; President, Metron Aviation
  • 2013 - Patrick Ky, Executive Director, European Aviation Safety Agency
  • 2012 - Peter Challan, Vice President, Harris Corporation
  • 2011 - Jane Garvey, FAA Administrator; Chairman, Meridiam
  • 2010 - Neil R. Planzer, Vice President, The Boeing Company
  • 2009 - Allan McArtor, Chairman, Airbus Americas, Inc.
  • 2008 - John Crichton, President & CEO, NAV CANADA
  • 2007 - Gerald L. Thompson, Chairman, Jerry Thompson and Associates
  • 2006 - Garland “Cas” Castleberry, FAA Associate Administrator; President, ATCA
  • 2005 - James L. Oberstar, U.S. Congressman
  • 2004 - Wolfgang Philipp, Senior Director, EUROCONTROL
  • 2003 - Andy Pitas, Founder, ATCA; Professional Air Traffic Controller
  • 2002 - Frank Frisbie, FAA Deputy Associate Administrator; Vice President, Northrup Grumman
  • 2001 - William Pollard, CEO, Air Services Australia; Professional Air Traffic Controller
  • 2000 - Gabriel A. Hartl, Colonel, USAF Retired; President, ATCA
  • 1999 - Langhorne Bond, FAA Administrator
  • 1998 - Stanley Seltzer, Vice President, American Airlines; Professional Air Traffic Controller
  • 1997 - Yves Lambert, Director General, EUROCONTROL
  • 1996 - Norman Mineta, Secretary of Transportation; U.S. Congressman
  • 1995 - Captain Elrey B. Jeppesen, Airline Captain; Founder, Jeppesen & Co.
  • 1994 - Tirey Vickers, Editor, ATCA Journal; Professional Air Traffic Controller
  • 1993 - Joseph Del Balzo, Deputy FAA Administrator; Electrical Engineer
  • 1991 - John Winant, President, National Business Aircraft Association
  • 1990 - A. Scott Crossfield, Aircraft Test Pilot
  • 1989 - J. Lynn Helms, FAA Administrator; President, Piper Aircraft Co.
  • 1988 - Najeeb Halaby, FAA Administrator; President, Pan Am Airways
  • 1986 - David Thomas, Deputy FAA Administrator; Professional Air Traffic Controller