In an effort to honor outstanding business aviation community members and inspire future aviators, the NBAA Silk Scarf Award is given to individuals for special contributions to the business aviation community during their careers.
Award presentations are made either at Association events, such as the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, or at events hosted by regional business aviation groups at locations nationwide. Multiple presentations may be made per year.
Past recipients of the Silk Scarf Award include but are not limited to the following, and any company/organization affiliations shown were current at time of award presentation:
2023
- North Dakota’s Darren Hall Presented With NBAA Silk Scarf Award (March 2023)
- Retiring NBAA Editor Bob Searles Honored With Silk Scarf Award (January 2023)
2022
- NBAA Honors Greg Kulis with Prestigious Silk Scarf Award (June 2022)
- The Home Depot’s Bill McBride Presented With NBAA Silk Scarf Award (April 2022)
- NBAA Honors Leo Knaapen with Prestigious Silk Scarf Award (March 2022)
- NBAA Honors FAA’s Teri Bristol with Silk Scarf Award (February 2022)
2021
- NBAA Recognizes Robert Olislagers’ Decades of Advocacy with Silk Scarf Award (December 2021)
- NBAA Presents Prestigious Silk Scarf Award to Keith Gordon (October 2021)
- NBAA Bestows Silk Scarf Award on Enterprise Holdings Aviation Director Richard Schwartz (October 2021)
- NBAA Honors Wisconsin Aviation Advocate Matt Dean with Silk Scarf Award (July 2021)
2020
- NBAA Honors Oklahoma’s Vic Bird with Silk Scarf Award (October 2020)
2019
- NBAA Presents Silk Scarf Award to Rosanvallon for Service to Industry (December 2019)
- NBAA Bestows Silk Scarf Award to Longtime Industry Contributor Pete Combs (December 2019)
- Business Leader, Industry Advocate Ed Schweitzer Receives NBAA’s Silk Scarf Award (February 2019)
- Universal Weather’s Greg Evans Receives NBAA Silk Scarf Award (January 2019)
2018
- International Training Pioneer David Stohr Receives NBAA Silk Scarf Award (April 2018)
- Jim Bennett Receives NBAA Silk Scarf Award for Service to Industry (February 2018)
2017
- Jeff Smith, former chairman of the Eastern Region Helicopter Council (ERHC) (September 2017)
- Tristan Atkins, Washington State Aviation Director (June 2017)
- Dee Hanson, Former Executive Director of the Alaska Airmen Association (AAA) (May 2017)
- Pat Morley, Director of Aeronautics for the Utah Department of Transportation (May 2017)
- Margaret “Peggy” Gilligan, FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety (March 2017)
2016
- Lance Robertson, Pacific Northwest Business Aviation Association (December 2016)
- Nancy Kalinowski, FAA Aviation Weather Directorate (December 2016)
- Charles Hall, Clark County Department of Aviation (October 2016)
- John Johnston, Westchester Aviation Association board member (September 2016)
- Guy Viselé, attorney and European Business Aviation Association consultant (May 2016)
2015
- Michael Herman, North American Communications (June 2015)
- Pat Epps, Epps Aviation (May 2015)
- Franklin McIntosh, FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center (March 2015)
- Bob and Kim Showalter (January 2015)
2014
- Wayne Werner, Idaho Business Aviation Association (IBAA) (October 2014)
- Ann Crook, New York Aviation Management Association (September 2014)
- William McShane, Long Island Business Aviation Association and New York Aviation Management Association (April 2014)
- Eric Rodriguez, Customs and Border Protection (March 2014)
- Scott Harrold (March 2014)
- Curt Castagna (February 2014)
- Harry Houckes (January 2014)
- Frederick Furth
2013
- Jay Mesinger (December 2013)
- Gordon Hoff (October 2013)
- Jol Silversmith (May 2013)
- Vic Slacter (May 2013)
- Daniel Slapo (May 2013)
- Jeff Hansen, Aircraft Services, LLC (May 2013)
- Richard Davey, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (April 2013)
- Kevin Smith
2012
- Jeff Ramsden, Ramjet Aviation (November 2012)
- Richard L. McCollom, Union Pacific Aviation Department (November 2012)
- David Dinneen, Massachusetts Airport Mangement Association (October 2012)
- Rick Ducharme (August 2012)
- Ron Weight, Honeywell (retired; June 2012)
- Eric Brossard, BASF (June 2012)
- Paige Kroner, Signature Flight Support (May 2012)
- Scott Setzer, Chartis Aerospace Insurance Services (May 2012)
- Don Spruston, International Business Aviation Council (May 2012)
- Patrick J. Delahoussaye (May 2012)
2011
- Gary Garofalo, Garofalo Goerlich Hainbach PC (October 2011)
- Randy Walker, Henderson Executive Airport (October 2011)
- Franklin Davis, AIG (June 2011)
2010
- Jim Hollenbeck, ConAgra Foods (November 2010)
- Leo Prusak, LaGuardia Tower (September 2010)
- Dave Small and Jeff Agur, Georgia Business Aviation Association (September 2010)
- Donald F. Humason Jr., Massachusetts State Representative (August 2010)
- H. Beau Altman, H. Beau Altman Corp. (June 2010)
- Jeffrey W. Lee, IBM (February 2010)
- Travis Vallin, Colorado Department of Aviation (January 2010)
2009
- Bill Mack, Teterboro Users Group (December 2009)
- Peter R. Bellini, Teterboro Users Group (December 2009)
- Steven E. Bergner (October 2009)
- Doug Molin, FAA (October 2009)
- Kenneth Kuhrt, United Technologies (May 2009)
- Richard E. Hrabko, AAE, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (April 2009)
- Don Smithey, Omaha Airport Authority (February 2009)
- Christopher J. Willenborg, Massachusetts Airport Managers’ Association (February 2009)
- Nicholas A. Sabatini, FAA (January 2009)
2008
- Gene Clow (November 2008)
- Richard Keltner, NationAir Insurance Agencies (September 2008)
- Michael S. Pape, CAM, Idaho Division of Aeronautics (September 2008)
- Jo Schenkenfelder, Houston Schedulers and Dispatchers/Air Routing Int’l (July 2008)
2007
- Randy Carlson (October 2007)
- Andy Fitzgerald (September 2007)
- Bill Knowles, Texas Aviation Advisory Committee (September 2007)
- Lanny Rider, Port Authority of New York/New Jersey (July 2007)
- Harold Curtis (March 2007)
- Richard A. Chartrain, JC Penney Co. (February 2007)
2006
- Katherine Perfetti, FAA (October 2006)
- Howard R. DuFuor (August 2006)
- John Mansfield, Elliot Aviation (May 2006)
- Paul H. Smith (April 2006)
- Cynthia Godfrey, Mesquite Metro Airport (March 2006)
- David S. Fulton, Texas Department of Transportation (March 2006)
- David Frame, Houston ARTCC, FAA (March 2006)
- Gary R. Ness, State of North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (March 2006)
- Fred E. Adams, North Dakota Aviation Council (March 2006)
- Debbie Alke, Montana Aeronautics Division (March 2006)
- John Rice, State of New Mexico (February 2006)
2005
- Gregory Kuta, Eaton Corporation (November 2005)
- Oz Asleson, Rockwell Collins (April 2005)
- Dennis Keith (March 2005)
- Peter Berry, Shanwick ATC (January 2005)
2004
- Durwood J. Heinrich, Texas Instruments (December 2004)
- Fernand Francois, European Business Aviation Association (October 2004)
- John Ackerman (October 2004)
- Jessica Salerno (July 2004)
- Dave A. Hilton, Gulfstream Aerospace (May 2004)
- E.E. “Dunny” Dunsworth (February 2004)
2003
- Gwendolyn Mayo, Mayo Aviation
2002
- Tom Davidson
- Matt Zuccaro
- William Hodde
2000
- Jim Buckles
- Dave Dwyer
- Ron Morgan
- Joe Ritorto
- Scott Miller
Send inquiries about this web page to feedback@nbaa.org.
Recipients of this award are determined by NBAA; nominations are not accepted.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.