FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James are among the lineup of speakers slated for the 27th annual International Women in Aviation Conference, to be held from March 10 to 12 in Nashville, Tenn.
“With conference attendees from all segments of the aviation industry, and phases of life and career, we are challenged each year to develop a lineup of speakers whose stories and messages will resonate with all,” said WAI president and founder Peggy Chabrian. “This year, we have a great combination of speakers that I know will be both entertaining and memorable.”
Joining Huerta and James will be Jessica Cox, the first armless pilot and motivational speaker; Tracey Curtis-Taylor, who is retracing Amy Johnson’s 1930 flight from the UK to Australia; Rod Machado, pilot and author; and Doreen Welsh, flight attendant on US Airways “Miracle on the Hudson” flight.
In addition to the featured speakers, the conference will include seminars, workshops, networking events, social events, off-site tours, a commercial exhibit area, and what is anticipated to be the largest Girls in Aviation Day event yet. Also, the 2016 conference is expected to reach a milestone with the more than $500,000 in scholarships that will be awarded. This will push the total of scholarships awarded at the conference over the past 20 years to more than $10 million.