NTSB Returns To Full Board with Graham, Chapman
The National Transportation Safety Board is set to return to its full complement of board members with the recent confirmation of two new members, both of whom have had strong ties to business and general aviation.
Michael Graham, who had been director, flight operations safety, security, and standardization for Textron Aviation, was confirmed for terms extending through 2025. Graham has a deep background in business aviation safety, formerly chairing the Air Charter Safety Foundation and leading the NBAA Safety Committee’s Pilot Safety Working Group, as well as volunteering on the FAA’s Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) program’s General Aviation Issues Analysis Team.
Joining him on the board is Tom Chapman, who was confirmed for a term extending through the end of 2023. Chapman most recently was minority counsel for the Senate aviation subcommittee and has also held government affairs positions for US Airways and Southwest Airlines. He also was known in general aviation circles for his time as senior v-p for government and technical affairs for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
The Senate confirmed both on December 19. They join Robert Sumwalt, the current chair who also has airline and corporate aviation experience; Jennifer Homendy, who also has a Capitol Hill background with expertise in transportation and pipeline issues; and Bruce Landsberg, who came to the Board with general aviation safety experience as the former president of the AOPA Foundation and Air Safety Institute.
“NBAA welcomes the return of a full five-member board at the NTSB,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “Given that safety is a core value for business aviation, we are pleased to see the confirmation of Michael Graham, and we look forward to working with him and Thomas Chapman in their new roles at the NTSB.”