NBAA Names Two Washington Veterans to Vice President, Government Relations Posts

Washington, DC, Nov. 15, 2013 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today announced that Dick Doubrava, NBAA director, legislative affairs, and Christa Fornarotto, who is currently serving as Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) associate administrator for airports, have both been appointed to vice president positions with government-relations responsibilities for the association.

“Advocacy on behalf of business aviation has never been more important, as demonstrated by the number and complexity of policy challenges the industry has faced in recent years,” Bolen said. “I am confident that NBAA Members will be well served with Dick and Christa in these key government affairs positions.”

Doubrava came to NBAA in 2004 from the Carmen Group, a Washington-based government relations firm. Prior to that post, he held senior government and regulatory affairs positions with what was then the Air Transport Association (now Airlines for America) and with Delta Air Lines in Washington, DC and Atlanta, GA.

His government experience includes service in the Reagan Administration at the Department of Transportation (DOT), as deputy director of congressional affairs under then-Secretary Elizabeth Dole, where he oversaw outreach with Congress and the aviation industry. Before that, he served for more than 10 years as a top legislative aide to James Abdnor, a South Dakota Republican from the state’s second congressional district, who served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, followed by a term in the U.S. Senate. Doubrava graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and public policy.

“Throughout his nine years with NBAA, Dick has effectively leveraged his knowledge of government policymaking to champion NBAA Members’ interests on a variety of concerns, including those related to aviation security, taxation and other matters,” Bolen said. “We look forward to his expanded role in representing the industry for NBAA.”

Fornarotto has for nearly three years overseen the FAA's office of airports, which, among other responsibilities, involves management of programs for national airport planning, including development of airport safety standards, design and engineering, certification, environmental processing and financing. Prior to joining the FAA, she served as DOT deputy assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, as principal advisor to Secretary Ray LaHood on a broad portfolio of domestic and international aviation policy matters.

Before joining the DOT, Fornarotto served as legislative director to Rep. Jerry Costello (12-IL), who was a member of the House General Aviation Caucus, and she also worked on the staff of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee, which Costello chaired. She graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania and received a master’s degree in public policy from the George Washington University.

“Christa is a real talent and we are very fortunate to have her joining NBAA’s leadership team,” Bolen said. “She has an outstanding reputation as an effective manager and developer of domestic and international aviation policy across a number of important areas for our industry, including safety, certification and international aviation policies.”

Doubrava and Fornarotto will officially begin in their new roles with NBAA on Jan. 1, 2014.