NBAA to Honour Doug Carr for 28 Years Shaping Business Aviation Safety and Access

Former senior vice president will receive the Pillar of the Association Award at the Military Connect opening during NBAA-BACE on October 21.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Doug Carr is scheduled to receive NBAA’s Pillar of the Association Award on October 21 at NBAA-BACE.
• He retired in August 2026 after 28 years with NBAA, most recently overseeing safety, security, sustainability and international operations.
• His work included fractional ownership rules, safety standards and the restoration of business aviation access to Washington National Airport.
• Carr helped advance international operating access, including U.S. preclearance for business aviation at Shannon in Ireland.

Doug Carr, whose nearly three decades at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) spanned major changes in aircraft security, safety regulation and international access, is set to receive the organisation’s Pillar of the Association Award at its annual business aviation convention on October 21, 2026.

The presentation is scheduled for 10 a.m. during the opening of the Military Connect programme at the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE). The programme brings a military dimension to the industry gathering: Carr himself served six years in the U.S. Navy before pursuing a career in aviation policy.

The recognition follows Carr’s retirement in August after 28 years at the Washington-based association. His most recent position was senior vice president for safety, security, sustainability and international operations, a role encompassing practical issues that shape how business aircraft can operate, from airport access and security procedures to cross-border approvals and safety standards.

Regulatory work with consequences for operators

Carr joined NBAA in 1998 as manager of domestic operations and went on to hold progressively wider responsibilities in safety, government affairs and international regulation. He worked with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and overseas aviation regulators.

Among the initiatives associated with his tenure were the development of the U.S. regulatory framework for fractional aircraft ownership, the FAA’s work on flight-and-rest provisions and his leadership of the Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment aviation rulemaking committee. Carr also contributed to business aviation safety management system standards and the establishment of the International Standards for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO).

Security and airport access became especially consequential after the September 11 attacks. Carr helped establish NBAA’s Security Council and developed the security programme that enabled business aviation operations to resume at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked with the FAA on operational difficulties created by limits on recurrent training and medical certification.

Work extending beyond U.S. borders

His international responsibilities included representation at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and engagement with aviation authorities across Europe and Asia. He helped establish the U.S. business aviation preclearance programme in Shannon, Ireland, allowing participating operators to complete certain U.S. border formalities before departure. Carr also served as corporate secretary of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and as chair of the NGPA.

In announcing the award, Dan Hubbard, NBAA’s interim chief operating officer, described Carr as a dependable resource when members encountered complex safety requirements, security problems or obstacles to flying internationally. The association says his work helped maintain access and strengthen operating standards throughout an evolving regulatory environment.

Before NBAA, Carr worked in government and industry affairs at the National Air Transportation Association. A graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, he holds qualifications in aviation management and aviation flight and is a commercial, multi-engine, instrument-rated pilot and certificated flight instructor.

The Pillar of the Association Award recognises sustained contributions by current or former NBAA employees. Previously known as the Staff Lifetime Achievement Award, it is awarded selectively rather than every year. Carr’s selection puts the spotlight on the regulatory and operational work that often takes place out of public view but remains central to business aviation’s day-to-day functioning.