John Rosanvallon, who is stepping down as CEO and president of Dassault Falcon Jet after a nearly 45-year career with the French manufacturer, and Mary Miller, corporate v-p of industry and government affairs for BBA/Signature Flight Support, are among a slate of six recipients announced for this year’s National Aeronautic Association (NAA) 2019 Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Awards.
They join former NAA president and CEO Jonathan Gaffney, U.S. Air Force chief of staff Gen. David Goldfein, founding member and former president of the International Aerobatic Club Michael Heuer, and long-time Air Line Pilots Association communications executive Don Skiados as this year’s honorees.
Established in 1954, the Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award honors “outstanding Americans who, by their efforts over an extended period of years, have made contributions of significant value to aeronautics and have reflected credit upon America and themselves.”
“The 2019 Distinguished Statesmen honorees genuinely represent the full breadth of aviation and aerospace,” said NAA president Greg Principato. “Each has contributed much in his or her career. More importantly, each has done a great deal to make others better. The work of a statesman, it’s been said, is to represent the future to the present. All of these honorees exemplify that standard.”
Miller is being honored for “dedicating herself to delivering world-class customer and support services to the business and private aviation community for nearly 40 years” and Rosanvallon for “his 45 years of effective leadership and unrivaled record of success at Dassault Aviation, overseeing numerous new products and expansion into emerging markets.”
Gaffney, meanwhile, is being recognized for 30 years of dedicated service, in which he created “more efficient, effective, and functional organizations as a naval officer, congressional staff member, airport executive, and aviation association leader,” and Goldfein for “selflessly serving his country and defending democracy for over 36 years as a consummate airman and highest uniformed member of the U.S. Air Force.”
NAA further cited Heuer’s “five decades of skilled and passionate leadership in air sports and aerobatics” and Skiados for more than 50 years as executive director and director of communications for ALPA, serving as a resource for pilots, union leaders, boards of directors, universities, and aviation charities.
The awards will be presented during NAA’s Fall Awards Ceremony on November 12 in Arlington, Virginia.
