NBAA Salutes Doug Carr for Decades of Service as Business Aviation’s Champion

Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, [email protected]

Washington, DC, July 16, 2026 - The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today thanked NBAA Senior Vice President for Safety, Security, Sustainability and International Operations Doug Carr, who recently announced his decision to retire from NBAA at the end of August after 28 years of outstanding service to NBAA and the entire business aviation community.

"Doug has been a rock upon which NBAA has depended for nearly three decades," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "Through his tireless work with the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and NBAA's International Committee, his pivotal role in the formation of NBAA's Security Council after 9/11, his leadership on countless safety initiatives with NBAA's committees and the FAA that helped save lives and his indefatigable promotion of best practices in business aviation operations, Doug has made an indelible mark on NBAA and the entire business aviation industry. He will be greatly missed."

Carr joined NBAA in April 1998 as manager of domestic operations. He subsequently was promoted to manager of safety and operations, director of government affairs and vice president of regulatory and international affairs. More than a simple succession of titles, Carr's increasing portfolio of responsibilities made him NBAA's point person with several key agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and others.

While at NBAA, Carr has led or participated in several landmark aviation rulemaking and policy efforts. For example, he helped spearhead the work of the FAA's Fractional Ownership Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), which developed the legal framework for fractional aircraft ownership in the U.S, used as a model for other safety regulators around the globe.

Carr also helped devise the DCA Access Standard Security Program, which returned business aviation to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) after 9/11. He was also a key subject matter expert on the FAA's Part 125/135 ARC Flight and Rest Subcommittee, and led the agency's Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment ARC.

He led the successful effort to ensure the TSA was responsive to industry's concerns about the agency's proposed Large Aircraft Security Program, and helped establish the CBP's business aviation pre-clearance program in Shannon, Ireland.

Carr also led the crafting of a workable Safety Management System program for business aviation in the U.S., and helped establish the International Standards for Business Aircraft Operations.

During COVID, Carr led efforts with the FAA to help keep business aviation flying in the face of severe restrictions on face-to-face recurrent training and medical certifications, along with ensuring that business aviation was treated fairly as international travel restrictions reduced mission options.

Internationally, Carr represented business aviation interests at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and has assisted with several rulemaking and policy efforts at the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Civil Aviation Administration of Singapore and the Civil Aviation Administration of China, along with other state aviation officials.

He has served as the corporate secretary for IBAC, and as chair of the NGPA.

Carr is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where he received a bachelor's degree in aviation management and an associate's degree in aviation flight. Prior to college, he spent six years in the U.S. Navy.

Before joining NBAA, Carr was employed by the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) as a specialist in government and industry affairs.

Carr is a commercial, multi-engine, instrument-rated pilot and a certificated flight instructor.

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Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world's largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.

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