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George Carneal Honored with 2016 Henderson Trophy

George Carneal has been selected as the recipient of the 2016 Cliff Henderson Trophy.

The Henderson Trophy, which is in the collection of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, was established in 1960 to honor the creator and Managing Director of the world-renowned National Air Races from 1928-1939. His work stimulated a generation’s interest in aviation and challenged the state of the art in aviation development.

The trophy is awarded to “…a living individual, group of individuals, or an organization whose vision, leadership or skill made a significant and lasting contribution to the promotion and advancement of aviation and aerospace in the United States.” Previous recipients include Colonel Joseph Kittinger, USAF (Ret.), Marion Blakey, The United States Air Force Academy, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Lieutenant General James H. Doolittle, Senator Barry M. Goldwater, Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson, Scott Crossfield, and the 2015 recipient – Durwood “Skip” Ringo.

George Carneal is a Partner at the Hogan Lovells Law Firm in Washington D.C. and the founder of the firm’s Aviation Practice Group. For decades, he has been counseling clients from virtually all sectors of the aviation industry on a broad array of issues. He has also served in the office of the President-elect, as special assistant to the Secretary of Transportation, and General Counsel of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Mr. Carneal’s experience includes securing varied federal approvals required for the provision of commercial aviation services, counseling as to Department of Transportation (DOT), FAA, and other federal agency regulatory compliance, the defense of enforcement proceedings, aircraft and parts certification, acquisitions and financing, airspace obstructions and management, airport environmental issues, business aviation matters, and the functioning of foreign civil aviation authorities.

Mr. Carneal is the General Counsel of the NAA, has served as the President of the Aero Club of Washington, is a long-time member of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Aeronautical Law, served on the Board of Governors of the Flight Safety Foundation, and was the founding Chairman of the Trustee of the D.C. Bar’s Clients’ Security Fund. He also speaks at a variety of professional programs and has been invited to lecture at several law schools. Mr. Carneal was an NAA Distinguished Statesman of Aviation in 2009 and Chambers has long ranked him as a Senior Statesman.

To read the official press release, please click here.

The Henderson Trophy will be presented at NAA’s Fall Awards Dinner on December 8th at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.