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We are pleased to welcome Natalie C. Martinez, Suzanne Hazel Rupp and George D. Thomas to the Board of Directors of the Washington Airports Task Force (WATF). As we continue to advance our mission of fostering economic growth and innovation in the aviation sector, the addition of these distinguished leaders will provide invaluable insights and expertise to our organization.

We look forward to collaborating with them on key initiatives aimed at strengthening the aviation sector within the Commonwealth of Virginia and the broader National Capital Region. Together, we will continue to drive the development of sustainable growth, improved infrastructure, and stronger partnerships in the industry.

Thank you for your commitment to WATF’s mission, and we are excited to see the impact of your contributions in the years ahead.

Today, on the one-year anniversary of the tragic crash at National Airport, we honor the 67 lives lost, including passengers, crew members, and others whose families and loved ones will forever carry this grief.

We also recognize the incredible support from local and regional first responders, officials, MWAA employees, and all those who stepped up during this crisis. Their swift, compassionate actions embodied the highest standards of public service and heroism. We extend our deepest gratitude to those on the front lines for their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to the safety of our community.

We invite you to watch the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority video dedicated to those lost and everyone impacted on this tragic day. May we keep those touched by this accident in our hearts and remember them always.

Click here to watch the tribute video.

#NeverForgotten #InOurHearts #HeroesAmongUs

Please join us in welcoming Chris Morrison to the WATF Board of Directors, where he brings an exceptional depth of expertise not only from his distinguished career in architecture and design leadership, but also through his steadfast advocacy for community engagement, mentorship, and LGBTQ+ rights.

After a decade as Managing Director of Perkins & Will’s Washington, DC studio, Chris has transitioned back to his role as Managing Principal to focus on architectural practice. With over 30 years of experience, his expertise spans architecture, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, resilience, and planning. His work has earned several prestigious honors, including the Catalyst Award, AIA Washington Chapter’s Award of Excellence, the D.C. Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation, and a GSA Merit Award for Design Excellence.

Beyond his professional achievements, Morrison contributes to the community by serving on the boards of the National Building Museum, Young Concert Artists, Community Forklift, and Watergate West Residences. He remains passionate about design excellence, Living Design principles, mentoring emerging architects, and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.

Announcing the 2025 Williams Trophy Honorees and 43^rd Annual General Meeting

The Washington Airports Task Force is proud to unveil the honorees for this year’s prestigious Williams Trophy Award, to be presented at our 43rd Annual General Membership Meeting.

The prestigious Williams Trophy is awarded to recognize those whose “Leadership, Vision and Dedication in the Application of Aviation or Space Enriched the Quality of Life on Earth.”

This year’s theme — “Eye on the Future: The Skies of Tomorrow” — shines a spotlight on innovators reshaping aviation through technology, sustainability, and passenger experience:

🌟 Boom Supersonic
🌟 Electra
🌟 Joby Aviation

We are also honored to welcome Greg Campbell, Director of the Virginia Department of Aviation, as our keynote speaker.

The program will include a meet and greet where the honorees will have the opportunity to showcase their technology.

Learn more about the award and its history:
🔗 Washington Airports Task Force
🔗 Williams Trophy Award

SAVE THE DATE: Join us as we recognize these trailblazers and look ahead to the future of flight, at the Annual General Meeting, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 11am-2pm at Belmont Country Club.

With such an outstanding lineup of companies on stage, this year’s event is shaping up to be truly unforgettable.

Much more to follow!

Contact Lisa Merhaut for more information regarding the event and Mark Treadaway for sponsorship opportunities.

The Committee for Dulles Community Outreach (CFDCO), the charitable arm of the Committee for Dulles (CFD), is pleased to announce it has awarded 50 Dulles Airport Scholarship Program recipients totaling $60,000 to local graduating high school seniors who are employed or volunteer at Washington Dulles International Airport (Dulles) or who are dependents of employees or volunteers at the airport.

Click here to view the entire press release.

Bravo to the Washington Post for publishing two Letters to the Editor about the region’s worst traffic bottleneck, the American Legion Memorial Bridge. Individual kudos to WATF Board Director, Bob Buchanan, and former Maryland Secretary of Transportation Robert Flanagan for speaking out and offering solutions to fix the problem and forge a path forward. The Washington Airports Task Force is keeping its Eye on the Future by strongly supporting the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance and its goal of maintaining reliable funding sources and plans for the expansion of our transportation infrastructure.

Growing up in Montgomery County, I have seen firsthand how the opening of the Capital Beltway in the early 1960s transformed our community. It’s no coincidence that today the Beltway connects the D.C. region’s three most populous jurisdictions — Montgomery, Prince George’s and Fairfax counties. From Tysons and Springfield to Greenbelt and National Harbor, it’s clear that this critical transportation infrastructure facilitates tremendous economic growth for the D.C. region.

But while Virginia has continued to make significant investments in the Beltway, I-95 and I-66 over the last two decades, Maryland has done nothing. And this inaction is most felt by commuters when trying to cross the Potomac River. The American Legion Bridge is now more than 60 years old and was last improved in 1992. Since that time, Fairfax and Montgomery counties together have added half a million residents.

CLICK HERE to read full article.

The Washington Airports Task Force is honored to be guided by an outstanding Board of Directors whose diverse expertise and unwavering professionalism significantly enrich our organization. The relationships they bring and the opportunities they help foster are of immense strategic value to our mission. This recognition extends to the most recent appointment to our Board as of June 2025. We are pleased to formally welcome the newest member to the WATF Board of Directors, Mr. Tim Aldridge, CAM – Director of FBO and Operations, Atlantic Airlines.

Tim has a solid background in aviation, having worked in various roles at companies such as Atlantic Aviation, Professional Jet Management, United States Marine Corps, and Northrop Grumman. With experience as a KC-130 Flight Engineer and Director of FBO Operations, Tim brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the field of aircraft maintenance and aviation safety.

On behalf of the WATF and our Board Members, welcome, Tim.

The 13th Annual Dulles Airport 5K/10K Runway is fast approaching! The race will take place on Saturday, September 27, 2025 @ 7:30 am, rain or shine. This is a great event for the entire family, strollers included!

Looking to splash your logo on race tees and enhance public awareness of your business or organization? Act now to sponsor the event:

Sponsorship Levels:

• Gold Medal Sponsorship: $5,000
• Silver Medal Sponsorship: $3,000
• Bronze Medal Sponsorship: $2,000

For detailed information, CLICK HERE to download the sponsorship form. Contact Mark Treadaway at [email protected] or call 703-572-8714.

Submit Your 2025 Williams Trophy Award nominations today by visiting https://lnkd.in/ebVpR9xw and answering three simple questions. The deadline for submissions is May 15, 2025.

If you should have any questions, please contact [email protected].

The Washington Airports Task Force (WATF) is soaring to new heights with our efforts to engage our network and community in submitting nominations for the 2025 Williams Trophy Awards recipients. The Williams Trophy was established in 1996 by the Board of Directors of the WATF. Carrington Williams, for whom the trophy is named and who was the founding chairman of the WATF from 1982 to 1996, was the first to receive the trophy on June 10, 1996. The trophy is awarded to recognize those whose “Leadership, Vision and Dedication in the Application of Aviation or Space Enriched the Quality of Life on Earth.” We are celebrating our 29th year of the Williams Trophy Award and are proud to have honored many remarkable recipients in the past. The recipient(s) are recognized at the WATF’s Annual General Membership meeting (AGM) to be held late in 2025. The AGM is one of the Task Force’s biggest and most anticipated events of the year and attendance is expected to be at capacity.

The criterion for selection involves choosing an individual, group, or company that closely aligns with and respects the essence of the award. We invite you to submit your nomination here by answering three simple questions. The deadline for submissions is May 15, 2025.

Recent years recipients are noted below, and a more extended list can be found here:

• 2024 – Celebrating Women in Space and Aviation: Last year, the Williams Trophy collectively and publicly paid tribute to women leaders who have notably broken-down gender barriers, have led, and continue to lead, change for a better today and future for space and aviation. Recipients included: Ellen Ochoa, Angela Gittens, Candace McGraw, Col. (USAF, ret) Pam Melroy and Katelyn Miller.
• 2023 – Doug Parker was the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Airlines. Doug was awarded the Williams Trophy in recognition of his remarkable 37-year career marked by exceptional leadership, vision, and unwavering dedication to aviation.
• 2022 – The Task Force honored the Silver Line Metrorail, spearheaded by counties of Fairfax and Loudoun, the Town of Herndon, MWAA, and WMAA.

If you should have any questions, please contact [email protected].