FAA Acting Administrator Dan Elwell and U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-Louisiana) will be keynote speakers during the NBAA 2018 opening session in two weeks. The show will be held October 16 to 18 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

“They will address a range of issues of interest to the industry, and we know attendees will appreciate hearing their perspectives and insights as we kick off the show’s opening day,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen.

Elwell has overseen the FAA, and crucially the agency’s NextGen ATC modernization program, since he took over as acting administrator in January. After retiring as a U.S. Air Force aviator, Elwell was an airline pilot at American Airlines before serving in senior roles at the Aerospace Industries Association and Airlines for America before joining the FAA as deputy administrator in 2015.

Abraham, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, is a doctor, veterinarian, farmer, and rancher, in addition to a fixed-wing and helicopter pilot. He currently flies reconnaissance missions for the Coast Guard Auxiliary and is a certified flight instructor. In addition, Abraham was featured in the November/December 2017 issue of NBAA Business Aviation Insider, where he discussed his passion for aviation and the importance of business aviation.