Katherine Preston:
Attracted to aviation’s global and economic impact
While in college, Katherine Preston focused her studies on international relations. Later this translated into an aviation career because of its global nature and immense impact on the world economy. Preston joined ACI-NA in May 2011 and currently serves as Senior Director of Environmental Affairs. In this role, she manages policy initiatives, programs and regulatory affairs related to environmental and sustainability issues at airports. She oversees ACI-NA’s Environmental Affairs Committee, including nine area-specific work groups such as air quality and water quality, and develops content for a number of environmental specialty conferences for the organization. Preston serves as the ACI-NA representative to a number of industry coalitions, committees and regulatory advisory groups, and participates on ACI World’s Environmental Standing Committee, which addresses environmental challenges faced by airports globally, and aviation environmental issues at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Prior to joining ACI-NA, Katherine was a policy analyst for environmental and commercial aviation issues at The Boeing Company from 2007 to 2011, including sustainable aviation biofuels, chemical regulation, climate change and international trade. She began her aviation career with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Washington D.C. office in 2005.
BIO:
Katherine Preston joined ACI-NA in May 2011 and currently serves as Senior Director, Environmental Affairs. Katherine manages policy initiatives, programs and regulatory affairs related to environmental and sustainability issues at airports. She manages ACI-NA’s Environmental Affairs Committee, including nine area-specific work groups such as air quality and water quality, and develops content for a number of environmental specialty conferences for the organization. Katherine serves as the ACI-NA representative to a number of industry coalitions, committees and regulatory advisory groups, and participates on ACI World’s Environmental Standing Committee, which addresses environmental challenges faced by airports globally, and aviation environmental issues at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Prior to joining ACI-NA, Katherine was a policy analyst for environmental and commercial aviation issues at The Boeing Company from 2007 to 2011, including sustainable aviation biofuels, chemical regulation, climate change and international trade. She began her aviation career with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Washington D.C. office in 2005.
Katherine completed a M.S. degree in Environmental Science and Policy at The Johns Hopkins University and earned her B.A. degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations from the University of Florida. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and daughter.
1) Why did you select aviation as a career?
Initially I never considered a career in the aviation industry while I was an undergraduate! But as my academic focus was international relations, the aviation industry attracted me because of its global nature and immense impact on the world economy. As I became more interested in environmental policy, the aviation industry afforded many opportunities to work on environmental and sustainability issues such as climate change, air and water quality, and biofuels to name a few. On the whole, the aviation industry is very proactive in managing its environmental impact and seeks solutions rather than trying to avoid the tough issues, which makes working in this field very rewarding!
2) What advice from a mentor helped you the most in your career?
Two pieces of advice that I keep going back to are 1) persistence is critical - don’t get discouraged if you hear the word ‘no’ at first, and 2) learn how to communicate complex and/or technical issues in a few sentences or few paragraphs. This skill is critical if you want to effectively convey your message to decision-makers.
3) What is the biggest challenge you see facing aviation today?
There are two challenges on the environmental front that really have the potential to constrain the industry: climate change and noise. Industry and government need to work together to address both of these significant issues. I think climate change is a huge challenge for our entire generation (not just the aviation industry), as it presents both significant economic and physical risks. The cost of delaying action to mitigate and adapt to these risks is only going to increase the longer we wait.
With regards to aviation noise, this issue is really about how to best balance the interests of communities, the traveling public, industry and government. If left unaddressed, both could severely limit the ability of the aviation industry to grow and meet our future needs.
4) What advice would you give to others in the industry?
This isn’t specific to the aviation industry, but networking is so important, both for your own career as well as advancing the interests of your organization/clients/members. And to never burn bridges! You never know where your colleagues, associates, supervisors and even former interns will end up!
5) What are three things we don’t know about you?
1) I love to travel
2) My most dreaded chore is organizing the basement
3) I really enjoy taking classes of all kinds, for both personal and professional development
Katherine Preston
Senior Director, Environmental Affairs
ACI-NA
Age:
Years in Aviation: 9
Did you know?
Preston’s dreads organizing the basement.
