Story ID: 
Fig Newton Becomes NBAA Chairman Emeritus
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: NBAA bylaw change allows new position
Word Count: 291
Gen. Lloyd “Fig” Newton has stepped into the newly created role of chair emeritus on the NBAA board of directors. NBAA’s board recently amended its bylaws to create the position to enable the association “to retain, for a limited time, the extraordinary talent of select board members who are no longer eligible for board service because they no longer qualify or have served the maximum number of terms on the board.”
As chairman emeritus, Newton is not a formal director but can attend board meetings and guide or mentor other directors. He will initially serve a one-year term with the possibility of up to three years in the position.
“I accepted the new position because I think NBAA brings great value to the business and civil aviation community, and I wanted to continue to be involved with that,” Newton said. “Also, I have thoroughly enjoyed my association with the professionals in this industry, especially the young professionals entering the marketplace today.”
Chair from 2017 to 2019 and a director on the NBAA board for nearly 13 years, Newton retired as a four-star general in 2000 after more than three decades with the U.S. Air Force. During his service, he flew 269 combat missions in Vietnam, was a member of the Thunderbirds demonstration team, became a congressional liaison to the U.S. House of Representatives, and led the Air Education and Training Command, comprising 13 bases, 43,000 active-duty personnel, and 14,000 civilians.
After his USAF retirement, Newton became executive v-p of international military programs and business development for Pratt & Whitney. He was awarded the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy in 2018 in recognition of his contributions as a military aviator and to the advancements of aviation education and advocacy.