By Jay Carpenter
Texas Aviation Association
On May 2006, Paul H. Smith retired as Regional Representative of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) after l 8 years of service. Paul was replaced by Steve Hadley of Waco. Paul and his wife, Myrna, live in Georgetown, Texas.
I first met Paul at a board meeting of the Texas Aviation Association in 2001. One is immediately taken by his charming personality. Also, I was impressed with his 27-year military background. In the military he was involved in air-traffic and flying occupations. Paul was a designated pilot for then U.S. Army Secretary John Marsh and chief of fixed-wing standardization and training at the military district of Washington, D.C. He received several awards, including the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star and the Air Medal.
Paul Smith’s military experience includes a position as Chief of Fixed-Wing Standardization and Training in the military district of Washington, D.C. Prior to this position, Smith was Chief of Fixed-Wing Standardization and Training for the U.S. Army in Alaska and a reconnaissance airplane pilot in Vietnam. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Air Traffic Control School in Biloxi, Mississippi. Paul also was a consultant of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for midair collision investigations.
Paul served as NBM staff for 11 years on air traffic and airspace issues. Later, Paul achieved the position of Director of Air Traffic Services & Infrastructure. He served the last seven years as NBM Regional Representative for the Southwest and Mountain areas. These areas include Louisiana, Texas, Colorado and Montana. Additionally, Paul spent many years on the road representing business aviation.
“Paul’s outstanding service to NBM has ensured that the association and the business aviation community are well represented,” said NBM President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We wish him well in his endeavors.”
Paul graduated from the prestigious Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, and served as Director for the Air Traffic Department of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). He received awards from NBM, the Texas Aviation Association (TXM), and RTCA, Inc., a private, not-for-profit corporation that develops consensus-based recommendations regarding communications, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management system issues.
On April 1992, NBM and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the appointment of Paul H. Smith, Manager, Air Traffic Services, to the position of chairman of the FAA’s Air Traffic Procedures Advisory Committee (ATPAC). The committee, which consists of 16 member organizations, elected Smith during their April meeting held in Washington, D.C.
Paul served as an advisor to the Texas Aviation Association’s board of directors since 2000. “In my travels and dealings with Paul I have always been able to mine gold nuggets of wisdom. As a board member we can all benefit from that source of knowledge,” said Tre Deathe, Executive Director at TXM.
Paul is a pilot who holds twin-engine and instrument ratings. He is also a certified flight instructor. We all wish Paul the very best in any new endeavor.
The new NBM Regional Representative is Steve Hadley. Hadley has been the Chief Pilot for companies such as Methodist Hospital in Lubbock, Texas; Furrs Supermarkets, Lubbock; Campbell Cherry and Dove law firm in Waco, Texas; as well as Chief Pilot and Director of Flight Operations for both Abilene Aero and Lubbock Aero. He also served as Chairman of the General Aviation Committee for Lubbock International Airport.
The National Business Aviation Association serves over 7,000 member companies. They promote aviation interests of businesses that use aircraft in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. NBM provides products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBM Annual Meeting & Convention, the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. For more information visit www.nbao.org .
