OKC Meet and Greet Provides Open Forum For Students to Ask Questions

Jul 12, 2026

Nearly three dozen FAA Academy students attended a meet and greet with NATCA leadership and members in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. The evening provided an open forum for academy students to ask questions about the air traffic control profession and NATCA membership.

New England Regional Vice President Kevin Curtiss, Training Representative Jim Newman (Kansas City Center, ZKC), and Reloaded Committee member Cameron Haynes (Wichita ATCT, ICT) led the discussion. They were joined by NATCA members Mitch Becker (Minneapolis Center, ZMP), Maurice Franklin (Potomac TRACON, PCT), Kym Hagan (Central Florida TRACON, F11), and Billy Spicer (Memphis Center, ZME).

Some of the students who attended were in their first days of the academy, while others were nearing the end of their evaluations. Several of the students shared they were second generation ATCs, whose parents were either currently employed by the FAA or had retired from the Agency. There are four more NATCA meet and greets with FAA Academy students scheduled for 2026, with the next one set for July 15.