Scott “Intake” Kartvedt is a true aviation legend. Inspired by Top Gun in 1986, he turned his dream into a reality, becoming a Navy fighter pilot with five combat deployments, over 6,300 flight hours, and 658 carrier arrested landings on 11 aircraft carriers. A few of Scott's many achievements include leading the Navy’s first F-35C Stealth Strike Fighter Squadron, flying three seasons with the Blue Angels, becoming a stunt pilot in Top Gun: Maverick, and acting as the aviation safety supervisor for Mission Impossible 8. He is currently the number five pilot for the Patriot Jet Team and an instructor and evaluator for United Airlines. Additionally, Intake is a sought-after keynote speaker, sharing his wisdom on cultivating a culture of excellence and "lessons learned" leadership. As President of the Blue Angels Foundation, Scott donates part of his earnings to help prevent veteran suicide. 

Mark Van Tine is formerly the Vice President of Digital Aviation for the Boeing Company. In this capacity, he oversaw a global enterprise comprised of 5,000 employees focused on developing and delivering intelligent information solutions to optimize customer’s operations and environmental performance. Concurrently, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Jeppesen, an 85-year-old information solutions company providing products and services for the aviation industry around the world. Van Tine began his career in 1981 with Lockheed DataPlan, a leading flight planning and weather services company, which was acquired by Jeppesen in 1989. He spent his career working in a variety of different organizations within Jeppesen, including flight operations, customer service, navigation, and information technology. He holds a Private Pilot certificate and is an active general aviation pilot. 

At Harley-Davidson, Jerry Wilke and a small leadership team overcame near bankruptcy and some of the strongest competitors in the world to develop over 20 years of growth and one of the world's most recognized and respected brands. Over a long career at Harley holding various leadership positions in worldwide Sales, Marketing, and Product Planning, Jerry developed a deep understanding of what motivates people to seek and find fulfillment in a sport, product, and lifestyle. Now, Jerry provides strategy and leadership consulting to organizations in the aviation, marine, and motorsport industries. A passionate private pilot with instrument and seaplane ratings and a tailwheel endorsement, he served for many years on Cirrus Aircraft’s Advisory board and the board of the AOPA Foundation. Jerry flies a variety of aircraft with his family, including a Cirrus SR22T, Skywagon, and Husky A-1B on Bushwheels.

In his role as Chairman and CEO, Jack Pelton leads EAA’s board and staff in its mission of growing participation in aviation and inspiring people to fly, build, and further engage in flight. Pelton is an EAA Lifetime Member devoted to restoring and flying vintage aircraft. He currently holds airline transport and commercial pilot certificates and has earned instrument, multi-engine, and seaplane ratings, plus type ratings for the Cessna Citation and Cessna Mustang jets. Pelton is the retired chairman, president, and CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company, where he oversaw new aircraft development, testing, certification, and improvements for all Cessna models. Prior to joining Cessna, Pelton was SVP of engineering for Dornier Aircraft. Pelton previously was the chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association board, and he served on the boards of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Business Aviation Association, and the Corporate Angel Network. Pelton has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the National Aeronautic Association’s Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award, the FAA’s Friend of Safety Award, and induction into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame. His other honors include the 2010 Lindbergh Award for balancing technology and nature, the 2008 Aviation Week Laurel for Business and General Aviation, and EAA’s highest honor, the Freedom of Flight Award.

As President and CEO of GAMA, Pete Bunce travels worldwide engaging regulators, policymakers, and elected officials to promote GA and advance the interests of a global membership of more than 140 airframe, avionics, engine, and component manufacturers, as well as the world’s leading business aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul companies. He retired from the USAF in March 2005, with his last assignment as the Director of the Air Force Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liaison. Previously, Pete flew F-15s and A-10s, while commanding several large operational fighter units. He remains an active pilot with more than 7,500 hours in military fighter and training aircraft as well as civil piston, turboprop, and business jet aircraft. Pete serves on the FAA’s NextGen Advisory Committee, MITRE Corporation’s Aviation Advisory Committee, the NASA Advisory Council Aeronautics Committee, and the board of directors of the RAF and Veterans Airlift Command. Additionally, he is a trustee of the U.S. Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation and a member of the FAA's Management Advisory Council. Among many accolades, he was named the Aviation Industry Leader of the Year by the Living Legends of Aviation in 2007, awarded the ICAS Sword of Excellence in 2009, inducted as a Living Legend of Aviation in 2010, and into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame in 2022.

Coming from an aviation family, John grew up in the back of small airplanes and learned to fly as a teenager. Ever since, he has been hooked on aviation of all kinds and regularly flies a Citabria, a Pilatus PC-12, and a Cirrus SR22. He is a 4000-hour ATP and also holds ratings for multiengine, seaplanes, gliders, and helicopters. He has written for Flying magazine, AOPA Pilot, and Plane & Pilot, and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Air Facts and the host of the Pilot’s Discretion podcast. 

Under the direction of the Colorado Aeronautical Board, Dave leads the Colorado Department of Transportation’s innovative and forward-leaning Aeronautics Division. In collaboration with 76 public use airports, the users of Colorado's aviation system, and numerous other stakeholders, Dave and the Division endeavor to support the state’s multi-modal transportation system by advancing a safe, efficient, and effective statewide aviation system through collaboration, investment, and advocacy. Dave has over 36 years of aviation experience in the Northwest Mountain Region, previously serving as the Northwest Mountain Regional Manager for AOPA, where he managed the association’s airport advocacy, state and local legislative and governmental affairs, and member engagement in seven northwestern states. An Accredited Airport Executive, Dave began his aviation career as an intern at Denver’s Centennial Airport, served over six years as the Assistant Aviation Director at the Aspen/Pitkin County (Colorado) Airport, and has managed the St. George (Utah) Municipal Airport and the Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyoming. He is a Past Chair of the National Association of State Aviation Officials and previously was President of the Northwest Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives and President of the Wyoming Airport Operators Association. In 2023, Dave was admitted as a Fellow (FRAeS) in the Royal Aeronautical Society. He is an active seaplane-rated private pilot with a Part 107 Uncrewed Aircraft Systems rating.

David Dunning serves as GAMA’s Director of Global Innovation & Policy. In this role, David manages GAMA’s strategic activities to foster the development and entry-into-service of innovations in technologies, products and services, which encompasses the work of GAMA’s Electric Propulsion and Innovation Committee (EPIC) and advanced air mobility (AAM) portfolio. David began his aviation career in the United States Air Force and has held progressive roles in military, civil, and government aviation. Prior to joining GAMA, David served as Advanced Air Mobility Program Manager at the Federal Aviation Administration where he led strategic planning efforts to integrate AAM into the U.S. national airspace system. David’s civil aviation experience includes leading aircraft fleet and maintenance operations for multiple air medical charter operators, as well as, owning and operating a FAA Part 145 certificated aircraft repair station. David earned his Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technical Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and holds FAA Inspector Authorization, FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) licenses, and FCC General Radiotelephone Operator license. David is passionate about spending time with his wife and three children, reading, running, surfing, and the outdoors.

Curt Castagna, C.M., was named the 11th President and CEO of NATA in August 2022. Prior to this post, Castagna served over six years as a NATA Board Member, including two years as Board Chair and one year as Immediate Past Chair. Castagna serves as the industry chair of the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative, a collaborative effort between industry stakeholders and the FAA to advance the removal of lead from avgas by 2030 or sooner. Castagna has a diverse background and more than 35 years of proven industry expertise, including in his concurrent role as CEO of Ascension Group Partners, which specializes in airport development, airport project management, and aviation consulting. Ascension maintains general aviation and business aircraft centers at the Long Beach and Van Nuys Airports. He has overseen the complete development, construction, management, leasing, sales, service, and promotion of complex and diverse projects. Castagna has a long history of leadership roles in airport tenants, community stakeholders, and aviation trade associations. He is recognized by his peers and colleagues for establishing collaborative partnerships and negotiating complex general aviation challenges while maintaining a focus on compromise and consensus building. Devoted to mentoring future aviation professionals, he has over 30 years of experience as an adjunct professor in the Aviation Administration programs at California State University, Los Angeles, and Cypress Community College. Castagna is a certified private and instrument-rated pilot and aircraft owner.