The National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) concluded its 2024 Annual Convention and Trade Show in Pittsburgh, held from September 7-11, 2024. With more than 380 attendees registered and representation from 39 states and territories, NASAO leadership dubbed the event a success.
“NASAO’s 93rd annual meeting once again provided the opportunity for state aviation leaders to discuss critical policy issues as well as access information on new developments in airport infrastructure, workforce development, and emerging aeronautical technologies,” said Greg Pecoraro, the association’s president and CEO. “It also brought state officials together with their partners at the FAA to exchange ideas on solving common problems and identifying opportunities to improve processes and information sharing vital to the maintenance and improvement of America’s airports.”
“It was an honor for PennDOT to host the 93rd NASAO Annual Convention & Trade Show in Pittsburgh,” stated PennDOT Bureau of Aviation Director Anthony McCloskey, P.E. “With the convention theme ‘Preserve Today for a Better Tomorrow,’ attendees had the opportunity to hear about a range of topics varying from how states are handling pavement preservation to states’ visions for planning the next mode of transportation for goods and people – Advanced Air Mobility. All NASAO award winners epitomized some element of preservation or aviation’s emerging technology. I personally want to thank my Bureau of Aviation staff who were the backbone of the convention supporting all facets of the entire program.”
The five-day event included trade show floor demonstrations and exhibits, keynote speakers featuring Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis and Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll, panel sessions, and networking opportunities.
The convention also included two sessions where the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Multi-state Collaborative, a group of nearly 30 state government agencies focused on aviation or economic development with support from NASAO, presented and discussed their draft consensus papers on the role of the states in AAM, policy harmonization, minimum infrastructure plans and service levels, and leveraging GA infrastructure. The Collaborative is working toward finalizing a series of consensus papers that will help harmonize state efforts while acknowledging states’ unique needs so that the industry can expect consistency across the states and ensure that policies and infrastructure complement federal policy.
Additionally, NASAO state members elected their 2024-2025 NASAO Board of Directors with Martin Blake, multimodal division director at the Indiana Department of Transportation, starting his tenure as NASAO Board Chair on Sept. 11 for 2024-2025.
2024 NASAO Awards
During the convention, NASAO leadership named the recipients of the 2024 NASAO Awards, which honors state and individual contributions to aviation. The 2024 NASAO Award winners are:
Kenneth A. Rowe Ambassador of Aviation Award: Michael Trout, A.A.E, Executive Administrator, Michigan Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics
Throughout Mike Trout’s 13-year career, the state benefited from his expertise and counsel on the aeronautics program to the governor’s office, the Legislature, the MAC, MDOT’s executive team, airports, and community leaders. He was pivotal in implementing policies related to emerging aviation technologies in coordination with other state agencies and economic development agencies to ensure safe integration of new technologies into the Michigan aviation system. He advocated for internal growth and hiring a great aeronautics team who will continue a safe aviation system that benefits the state of Michigan.
Most Innovative State Program Award: Office of Intermodal, Georgia Department of Transportation’s Airport Obstruction Identification Program
The Georgia Department of Transportation developed the “Airport Obstruction Identification Program” on a statewide basis to assist airport owners as they improve safety standards required for public-use airports. This Program has advanced the data collection needed to identify obstructions to arrival and departure corridors, allowing airports to take action and meet required federal and state safety standards. This Program is part of the Georgia Airport Inspection and Licensing requirements under state statute and federal grant assurances to maintain clear approach and departure paths to runway ends.
State Aviation Distinguished Service Award: Linn Smith, Airspace and Emerging Aviation Systems Manager, Michigan Department of Transportation
Linn Smith has served as the manager of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Office of Aeronautics Airspace and Emerging Aviation Unit since its inception in late 2021. This new unit was created to promote and advance the demand for integrating emerging aviation technology within Michigan’s vast transportation network. Prior to this highly innovative and forward moving leadership position, he led the Aviation Planning, Environmental and Airspace Unit as a Supervisor for over five years and was a Planning and Zoning Specialist for over 18 years. Smith has over 33 years of service at MDOT.
Chair’s Award: Brian Olsen, Aeronautics Administrator, Wyoming Department of Transportation
Outgoing NASAO Board Chair Kyle Wanner awarded Brian Olsen for his outstanding contribution to the association and support of the Board Chair through his leadership as chair of NASAO’s Legislative Affairs Committee and Small Community Air Service Working Group. His advice to the NASAO Executive Committee on national policies and commitment to building consensus among his peers helped the organization to build a strong policy agenda, of which many of NASAO’s policy priorities were included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
President’s Award: Debra Sanning, Deputy Regional Administrator for Central Region, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
NASAO President and CEO Pecoraro awarded Debra Sanning the President’s Award for her commitment to enhancing the relationship between the states and the FAA. Pecoraro noted that NASAO’s relationship with the FAA is the strongest it has been in years and that “no one has done more to facilitate and improve that relationship than Sanning.”
Future NASAO Conventions
The 2025 NASAO Annual Convention and Trade Show will be hosted in Anchorage, Alaska from September 21-24, 2025, at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center followed by Grand Forks, North Dakota in 2026.
