Photo Credit: Delvinhair Productions

NBAA-BACE is the only business aviation event that puts the most exciting disruptors, the top experts and the big-picture thinkers at center stage – redefining what is possible in aviation, and changing the very definition of on-demand air mobility.

Tuesday, Oct. 22

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall, Room W326


Neil deGrasse Tyson

Award-Winning Astrophysicist, Renowned Futurist, Best-Selling Author and Inspiring Speaker

Tyson’s NBAA-BACE keynote address takes place amidst a 2024 cross-country touring schedule that includes sell-out engagements. He routinely serves as an authoritative source on astronomical phenomena for news outlets worldwide, and is a visible social media presence with millions of followers.

Tyson rose to national prominence in the mid-1990s through his submissions to dozens of scientific publications, including columns for Natural History and StarDate magazines. During this period, he also became director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, a position he still holds today.

Tyson achieved further notoriety as host of the four-part, PBS NOVA mini-series “Origins,” based on his book “Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution,” co-authored by Donald Goldsmith. His latest book, “Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization,” links the history of human progress to the importance of scientific exploration and discovery in understanding humanity’s place in the universe.

Tyson graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in physics from Harvard University and his PhD in astrophysics from Columbia University. He is the recipient of 23 honorary doctorates and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the agency’s highest award for a non-government citizen.


Michael WhitakerMichael Whitaker

FAA Administrator

Whitaker, confirmed as FAA administrator by the U.S. Senate in October 2023, assumes the role as leaders from across government and industry are working to implement a newly codified FAA reauthorization law focused on ensuring that America retains its global leadership position in aviation.

Whitaker previously served as deputy FAA administrator from 2013-2016. In that role, he led the agency’s modernization to a Next Generation national air traffic control system. He returned to the FAA last year after serving as chief operating officer of advanced air mobility developer Supernal.

In addition to leading the FAA’s NextGen program as deputy administrator, Whitaker also established the agency’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Office, the first FAA organization dedicated to UAS operations in the National Airspace System.

As a private pilot, Whitaker has served in several key industry roles, including Senior Vice President of Alliances, International and Regulatory Affairs for United Airlines. He was later named Group CEO at InterGlobe Enterprises, the holding company for IndiGo, India’s largest airline.


Other Keynote Highlights

  • NBAA will honor Bombardier’s Laurent and Pierre Beaudoin with the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award. The Beaudoins will be interviewed by Lisa Stark, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning aviation journalist.
  • NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen will set the stage for 2024 NBAA-BACE and look ahead to business aviation’s bright future.

Any person who attends an NBAA convention, conference, seminar or other program grants permission to NBAA, its employees and agents (collectively "NBAA") to record his or her visual/audio images, including, but not limited to, photographs, digital images, voices, sound or video recordings, audio clips, or accompanying written descriptions, and, without notifying such person, to use his or her name and such images for any purpose of NBAA, including advertisements for NBAA and its programs.