Washington, DC, Oct. 22, 2015 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today announced that Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin will speak on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at the Opening General Session at NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2015), which runs Nov. 17 to 19 in Las Vegas, NV.
Fallin was elected the first woman governor of Oklahoma in 2010, and since she took office, Oklahoma has consistently ranked among the top states for job creation in the nation. “NBAA is very pleased to have Gov. Fallin participate in our convention, and we look forward to hearing her views on business aviation and the importance of aviation to Oklahoma,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.
As the former chair of the National Governors Association, Fallin led a nationwide initiative, "America Works: Education and Training for Tomorrow’s Jobs,” which seeks to better align education with 21st century workforce needs. She has since launched a local extension of that initiative, called “Oklahoma Works.” Fallin has also served as chair of the Aerospace States Association, dedicated to promoting the industry’s ongoing innovation and development at the statewide level.
Prior to serving as governor, Fallin represented Oklahoma in a number of state and federal positions. She served two terms as a state representative before becoming Oklahoma’s first Republican and first woman lieutenant governor in 1995.
In 2004, Fallin was honored with the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame’s Clarence E. Page Memorial Trophy for her work in establishing the Oklahoma Task Force on Aviation, which is dedicated to strengthening the state's aerospace companies and attracting new aviation businesses to the Sooner State.
After serving as lieutenant governor for 12 years, Fallin served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, and was a member of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, and its Aviation Subcommittee. She has a few hours remaining to complete the requirements for obtaining her private pilot’s license, and is a member of the Oklahoma Pilots Association.
General aviation in Oklahoma has a total annual economic output of more than $2.5 billion, according to a 2015 PricewaterhouseCoopers study. The same study found that general aviation in the state accounts for 13,300 jobs and $702 million in labor income.
As the most important business aviation event of the year, NBAA2015 offers attendees an unparalleled opportunity to learn about the latest issues affecting the industry. And as the largest gathering of the industry in the world, NBAA2015 is the premier place to review the latest business aviation products, technology and services, while participating in dozens of education sessions and making side-by-side comparisons of the most innovative aircraft on static display.
NBAA2015 will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with two aircraft displays – an indoor one, on the exhibit floor of the convention center, and an outdoor display at Henderson Executive Airport (HND).
