U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske has agreed to speak at the opening general session at the NBAA Convention in Orlando, Fla., on November 1. Sworn into office in March 2014, Kerlikowske has been lauded for his efforts to collaborate with the business aviation community on key access issues.

He has repeatedly met with NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen on these issues and the CBP has established a working group to focus on general and business aviation. Kerlikowske had been set to address the session during last year's NBAA show, but was forced to cancel in the wake of the Paris attacks in November.

“Commissioner Kerlikowske views business aviation as a security partner and has demonstrated his willingness to work with industry to reduce delays, streamline operations and facilitate entry into the U.S. without compromising CBP’s primary mission of security,” said Bolen. “We look forward to having the commissioner at our convention and hearing how the efforts of the past year, such as the formation of a CBP working group focused specifically on general aviation, have furthered the agency’s service to our aviation segment.”