NBAA recently honored two industry luminaries who are retiring from long-time positions in April—General Aviation Manufacturers Association president and CEO Pete Bunce and Signature Aviation corporate v-p of industry and government affairs Mary Miller.

During an event held at the Signature hangar at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA), NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen presented an award to Bunce recognizing his decades of industry advocacy and leadership, as well as a Silk Scarf Award to Miller for her years of service to the industry.

Bolen told attendees at the event that he’s had the opportunity to work closely with both Bunce and Miller. “We measure our relationship not in years but in decades, and through it all, I have found in them a source of strength and a source of trust with a sense of commitment that is really beyond imagination.”

Bunce is retiring after 20 years of leading GAMA, where he steered the association through dramatic expansion, both in region and in scope. Under Bunce’s stewardship, GAMA established an office in Brussels to strengthen international advocacy as well as welcomed rotorcraft, advanced air mobility, and MRO under existing and new membership platforms.

He advocated for key reforms, including in the certification arena, and fought off attempts to impose user fees on the industry. He also worked with NBAA to relaunch the No Plane No Gain industry advocacy campaign at a time when business aviation was getting battered in the public eye and more recently supported that advocacy into Climbing Fast to highlight the industry’s green revolution, along with other economic and societal benefits that it provides.

“Pete has been a vocal, steadfast, and highly effective champion for GAMA’s member companies and for our entire industry,” said Bolen, who presented Bunce with a framed model of the Cirrus SR-22 he flew for years. “He has had an immeasurable impact, and we wish him well on his retirement.”

Bunce joined GAMA following his March 2005 retirement from the U.S. Air Force after a 26-year career. Former Vertical Aviation International president and CEO James Viola succeeded Bunce at the helm of GAMA.

Miller, meanwhile, has had a career spanning more than 40 years, serving in her current position since 2010. Known as the face of business aviation from her long-time presence at KDCA, she has held customer service-oriented roles pre-dating Signature to its predecessor companies, including Butler Aviation.

While advocating for her company and connecting leadership to key officials in Washington, Miller has also been a strong voice for general aviation, helping to facilitate the reopening of KDCA to business and general aviation after its prolonged shutdown to the community in the aftermath of 9/11. Through her work with industry associations, including on the board of directors for the National Air Transportation Association, she has worked on a range of issues on behalf of the industry, from security to airport relations and FBO infrastructure. She also has represented the industry through her service on boards including the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

In 2019, she was honored as an NAA Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Stateswoman of Aviation.