NATCA Bookshelf

MAY 19-21, 2014 n i w . n a t c a . n e t 05 MONDAY// PANEL PREVIEW: LEGISLATION'S EFFECT ON THE NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM MATTHEW MCCARDLE // PAUL FELDMAN // ANDREW LEBOVIDGE // SHARON PINKERTON // CHRISTA FORNAROTTO // Matthew McCardle is the Director of Government Operations for Aviation and Transportation at The Boeing Company. Boeing is involved in the design, development, manufacture, sale, and support of commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight, and launch systems and services. Prior to joining Boeing in 2012, McCardle was professional staff on both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. As a staffer, McCardle visited over 35 different air traffic control facilities – many of them more than once – spending a significant amount of time with NATCA members. McCardle received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethany College in West Virginia. Sharon Pinkerton was named Senior Vice President of Legislative and Regulatory Policy for Airlines for America (A4A) in February 2011. She leads policy development on legislative and regulatory matters, working with Capitol Hill and the Administration. Pinkerton had originally joined A4A as Vice President of Government Affairs in 2006 and was responsible for all aviation-related issues. Before joining A4A, Pinkerton served as Assistant Administrator for Aviation Policy, Planning and Environment at the FAA. Prior to her appointment at the FAA, Pinkerton was Transportation Counsel to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Aviation Subcommittee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL-7) and served on Capitol Hill for nearly 10 years. Pinkerton received a Bachelor of Science degree from Cedarville College in Ohio and earned a law degree from the University of Florida. Pinkerton is also a Certified Public Accountant. Christa Fornarotto joined the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) as the Vice President of Government Affairs in January 2014 after serving as the FAA's Associate Administrator for Airports. At the FAA, she oversaw the Office of Airports for three years. Prior to joining the FAA, Fornarotto served as the U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs. On Capitol Hill, Fornarotto served as Legislative Director to Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL-12), who was a member of the House General Aviation Caucus. She also worked on the staff of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Aviation Subcommittee, which Costello chaired. Fornarotto graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania and received a master's degree in public policy from The George Washington University. Paul Feldman joined the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) in July 2008 as Vice President of Government Affairs. He is responsible for promoting the interests of GAMA's members before Capitol Hill and the Administration. Before joining GAMA, Feldman was with APCO Worldwide where he headed the company's transport practice in Europe. Prior to joining APCO, Feldman was the FAA's Director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, based in Brussels. In this capacity, he represented the Secretary of Transportation and the FAA Administrator on all aviation issues for these regions. Additionally, during his tenure with the FAA, he was Acting Assistant Administrator for International Aviation and held positions in the offices of the FAA Administrator and FAA Deputy Administrator. He also served as Deputy Director of the National Civil Aviation Review Commission. Prior to his work with the FAA, Feldman was the Democratic Staff Director for House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Aviation Subcommittee. Andrew LeBovidge has been an Air Traffic Control Specialist with the FAA at Houston Center (ZHU) since 1992. LeBovidge has served NATCA since 1998 as area representative from 1998-2000; Principal Facility Representative at Houston ARTCC (Local President) from 2000 until present; and Alternate Regional Vice President for NATCA's Southwest Region from 2003 until present. Throughout his career, LeBovidge has worked on several national and regional committees focusing on staffing and placement within the air traffic control system. During Monday's panel, several top aviation and Capitol Hill veterans will convene to discuss legislation's effect on the National Airspace System (NAS). The panel, moderated by NATCA's Deputy Director of Government Affairs Erin Barry and NextGen Representative Mel Davis, will explore the challenges and successes the aviation industry has had on Capitol Hill, including the effects of government furloughs and shutdowns, and NATCA's success in the appropriations process to ensure controllers remain on the job and facilities stay open. This panel will provide the audience with a good understanding of the legislative and political clout NATCA has on the Hill.

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