NASAO Recognizes North Carolina Division of Aviation Director Bobby Walston

*Bobby Walston, left, receives NASAO’s Exemplary Service Award from NASAO Chair, David Ulane.*

The National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) recognized Bobby Walston, Director, North Carolina DOT Division of Aviation with the Exemplary Service Award during its annual Washington Conference. Walston was recognized for his 30+ years of service to the state as well as his service to NASAO. He will be retiring from North Carolina DOT Division of Aviation on May 1. Walston also served as the NASAO Chair from 2020-2021 and was awarded the Ken Rowe Ambassador of Aviation Award in 2019.

Walston is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the NC Air National Guard, where he served as a Civil Engineer Operations Officer with the 245 Civil Engineer Flight located in Charlotte, NC. Lt. Col. Walston served over 28 years in the National Guard; he retired last year.

Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.