NAA Heading Into 2024 With Fresh Faces from Blue Chips and Innovators

The National Aeronautic Association announced the election of a half dozen new members to its Board of Directors, bringing fresh blood from longtime titans of aerospace and hungry new startups alike.

The new members include Darby Becker, of General Electric; Lauren Haertlein, of eVTOL manufacturer Joby Aviation; and Joan Higginbotham, of Ad Astra, LLC. (Ad Astra, in her case, is the Rocket Company, and not one of many similarly-named enterprises among the constellation of bay-area startups). Next, Billy Nolen, of eVTOL operation Archer Aviation,; James Viola, of industry body Helicopter Association International; and Claudia Zapata-Cardone, of US carrier United Airlines round out the rest of the pack. Additional longer-serving NAA Corporate members include Mark Miklos, Senior VP at Spirit AeroSystems, and Liana Sucar-Hamel, VP of Communications at Airbus Americas.

“Our current Board of Directors comprises a dedicated team of industry leaders, and the new members bring visionary leadership and guidance to our organization,” said Amy Spowart, President and CEO of the NAA. With a breadth of aerospace expertise and relationships from throughout the industry, the new directors will further guide our role in the future of aviation.”

“The NAA represents the roots of aeronautics and is a perfect launching point for the groundbreaking future of aerospace,” Spowart added. “Aviation’s future depends on allowing ourselves to build on our foundation with visionary and challenging goals. With the election of new members and the appointment of Mark and Liana, the NAA Board is showing growth, and we recognize that all industry sectors are connected. They all unite for the future of aeronautics.”

FMI: www.naa.aero