Recently retired National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen passed away Nov. 11, 2026.
Bolen — who led NBAA for nearly a quarter of a century — had been fighting cancer, forcing him to take medical leave and retire from an industry he had championed for more than 40 years. Since announcing his retirement on Nov. 6, NBAA has received a tremendous outpouring of support for Bolen, with messages crediting his legacy and friendship from every corner of the industry, according to association officials.
“We are filled with incredible sadness about Ed,” said Dan Hubbard, NBAA Acting CEO and SVP, Communications. “Ed was not just our colleague — he was a friend and a mentor to many of us. He accomplished so much, and did so with grace and humility. On behalf of the entire NBAA team, we send our condolences and prayers to Beth, Jack, Robert and all of Ed’s family, in this incredibly difficult time.”
The day before his passing, Bolen was inducted into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame for his advocacy on safety, airport and airspace access, workforce development, air traffic control modernization and many other key priorities.
While Bolen himself could not be present, NBAA leadership and members of his family were on hand to celebrate his dedication and service to the industry he loved.
A private pilot and native Kansan, Bolen was introduced to flying by his father, who served on the board of the Salina Regional Airport in Kansas.
Bolen attended the University of Kansas, graduating with a degree in economics. After earning a law degree and Master of Law in taxation, he served as legislative director for U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS), and majority general counsel to what is today the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
As an aide to Kassebaum, Bolen was a key player in the passage of the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994, which revived U.S. aircraft manufacturing, an industry that made Wichita the Air Capital of the World.
Bolen served as president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) from 1996 to 2004 before becoming president and CEO of NBAA, where he was a tireless advocate for business aviation.
Bolen advised presidents of both parties, working across party lines to bring people together to get things done, NBAA officials noted. He was nominated by President Bill Clinton and confirmed by the Senate to serve as a member of the Management Advisory Council to the FAA, which he chaired from 2000 to 2004. In 2001, Bolen was appointed by President George Bush to serve as a member of the Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry. Bolen is also a former chair of the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics.
Bolen received numerous honors and accolades throughout his career. In 2021, he was inducted as a Living Legend into the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s International Air & Space Hall of Fame, in recognition of his decades of contributions to the aviation and aerospace industry. In 2025, he received the Alpha Eta Rho Award, the aviation fraternity’s highest honor, for his commitment to the industry’s future leaders. Earlier this year, he received the Clay Lacy Friendship Medal from Flights to Freedom, which transports human trafficking survivors to their loved ones or to support groups.
“It’s hard to express how much we miss Ed, and what he meant to so many of us,” said John Witzig, Chair of NBAA’s Board of Directors. “What we do know is that we can all take inspiration from Ed’s legacy of service, dedication and leadership.”
“Ed was one of the kindest people in this business, and one of the most effective,” said Katie Pribyl, Acting Co-President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. “He led NBAA, but he never lost sight of the pilot flying a Cessna 172 on a Saturday morning. When AOPA needed a partner, Ed was always there, and our members are better off for the fights he took on with us. He understood that every pilot, whether they fly for business or for fun, depends on the same airports, the same airspace, and the same air traffic system, and he worked to protect all of it. We’ve lost a dear friend, and general aviation has lost one of its finest advocates.”
“I was fortunate to know Ed Bolen for more than 30 years,” added AOPA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy Jim Coon. “We both worked on Capitol Hill and shared a longstanding commitment to advocating for and protecting general aviation. I admired Ed’s passion, leadership, and dedication to our industry, but above all, I valued his friendship. It is that friendship I will miss the most. My thoughts and prayers are with Ed’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. He will be deeply missed.”
Officials with the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) also offered their condolences.
“Today, our entire NATA family shares in the profound sadness of losing someone who meant so much to our industry and to so many of us personally,” said NATA President and CEO Curt Castagna. “Ed was a dear friend to me and a valued friend to our association. His wisdom, warmth, and genuine interest in others made every conversation meaningful and every collaboration better. Ed devoted so much of himself to making our industry stronger, but perhaps his greatest legacy lives in the people he believed in, the careers he helped shape, and the friendships he held dear. He had a rare gift for making those around him feel valued, and his kindness and generosity will remain with all of us who had the privilege of knowing him. We have lost an extraordinary champion for aviation and an even more extraordinary human being. On behalf of everyone at NATA, I extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and colleagues as we remember a life so richly lived and a legacy that will endure.”
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ed Bolen, a remarkable leader whose contributions to aviation will be felt for generations,” added Devin Osting, executive director of the Alliance of Aviation Across America.
“Ed understood better than almost anyone the importance of general aviation to communities across the country. He was a tireless advocate for an aviation system that serves businesses and communities of every size, and he had an extraordinary ability to bring people together around that shared purpose.”
“On a personal level, I am profoundly grateful for Ed’s mentorship and confidence. He was a steady and thoughtful leader who made those around him better, and I will miss him greatly,” he concluded.
For more information: NBAA.org, AOPA.org, NATA.aero, AviationAcrossAmerica.org
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