NATCA

By the time passengers settle into their seats, teams of air traffic controllers and aviation safety professionals have already been at work to protect the journey ahead.

From constructing the runways to managing the airspace using specialized technology, we’re helping ensure flights are safe from gate to gate.

The NATCA Onboarding Committee welcomes and thanks all new NATCA leaders who have recently taken office for their terms as FacReps at their local facilities.

Great Lakes:
Garrison Simpson (Columbus Municipal FCT, BAK)
Chad Self (Springfield ATCT, SPI)

Northwest Mountain:
Alexis Hill (Boeing ATCT, BFI)
Zachary Lorden (Paine ATCT, PAE)

Southwest:
Jonathan Weaver (Ardmore ATCT, ADM)
Vincent Caruana (Roswell ATCT, ROW)

Southern:
Evan White (Raleigh-Durham ATCT, RDU)

Western Pacific:
Christina Fergot (Ontario ATCT, ONT)
Michael Cox (Reno ATCT, RNO)

The NATCA Communications Committee met in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, May 7, 2026, discussing best practices and upcoming NATCA events. The committee spent the day discussing the best strategies and practices to keep NATCA members informed about both regional and national events.

The committee received a briefing from NATCA President Nick Daniels and Executive Vice President Mick Devine on the National Executive Board’s expectations as well as how to best integrate the Communications Committee with the new NATCA Council structure. The committee also discussed the NATCA website with Information Technology Chair Jason Doss (Jacksonville Center, ZJX). The day concluded with Noel Kingston (Prescott ATCT, PRC retired) briefing the committee on Campaign 2026.

Members who were able to attend in-person or virtually included Great Lakes Regional Vice President Dean Von Almen (NGL), Committee Chair Shannon Lyman (Boston ATCT, BOS), Vice Chair Sarah Simek (Grand Forks ATCT, GFK), Anita Johnson (Albuquerque ATCT, ABQ), Amanda Clinefelter (Anchorage ATCT, ANC), Lisen Minetti (Engineer/Aeronautical Center, EAC), Ariana Seimas (Fresno ATCT, FAT retired), Eric Goldman (Pensacola ATCT, PNS), Bryan Martini (Sioux Gateway ATCT, SUX), Jaymi Steinberg (Washington Center, ZDC), and Thom Thompson (Indianapolis Center, ZID retired). The committee was joined by Public Affairs Deputy Director Galen Munroe and Public Affairs Administrator Kevin White.

NATCA members met with airport executives, aviation professionals, and air traffic control students during the annual American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) conference. The event took place May 3-5, 2026, in Los Angeles.

Attending the conference on NATCA’s behalf was Executive Vice President Emeritus Trish Gilbert, Johnny Albanez (Northern California TRACON, NCT), James Squire (Los Angeles Center, ZLA), and Michael Takeda (Long Beach ATCT, LGB).

This Memorial Day, NATCA honors and remembers the brave men and women who sacrificed in many ways in military service to our nation. Many NATCA members previously served in a branch of the military. Some continue to serve in the National Guard. Our hearts especially go out to those who have lost a family member or friend who was serving in the United States Armed Forces.

We are grateful for their courage, dedication, and commitment to protecting the freedoms we enjoy every day.

As we spend time with family and friends this holiday weekend, we pause to reflect on those who gave everything in defense of our country — and we extend our appreciation to the military families who carry their legacy forward.

From all of us at NATCA, we wish our members a safe and meaningful Memorial Day.

Each year, NATCA offers a scholarship program for spouses, children, stepchildren, and legally adopted children of active, retired, and deceased members in good standing for at least two consecutive years. This scholarship is for full-time attendance at accredited colleges and universities within the United States and its territories for an undergraduate degree program.
This year’s prompt asked candidates to describe how they see the role of unions in protecting workers today.

For the 2026 scholarship, NATCA selected 21 winners, including one President’s Award winner. That honor was bestowed on Izzy Ellington. She is the daughter of Matthew Ellington (Chicago O’Hare ATCT, ORD).

Congratulations to all our scholarship winners:

Rebecca Bratcher, child of John Bratcher (RVP NSW)
Jack Collins, child of Kyle Collins (Miami Center, ZMA)
Damian Davidson, child of Brad Davidson (Engineer/Great Lakes Region, EGL retired)
Dylan De Roda, child of Edward De Roda (Albany ATCT, ALB)
Isabella Devine, child of Mick Devine (Executive Vice President, NATCA)
Mackenzie Dybvik, child of Garth Koleszar (Los Angeles Center, ZLA retired)
Izzy Ellington, child of Matthew Ellington (Chicago O’Hare ATCT, ORD)
Gabrielle Esquer, child of Brandon Esquer (Phoenix TRACON, P50)
Kegan Flood, child of Matthew Flood (Milwaukee ATCT, MKE)
Anna Forbord, child of Jared Forbord (Minneapolis Center, ZMP)
Kane Geddis, child of Peter Geddis (Providence ATCT, PVD)
Makayla Goll, child of Curtis Thompson (Oklahoma City ATCT, OKC)
Hailey Hansen, child of Kevin Hansen (Boston Center, ZBW)
Kieran Klein, child of Michael Klein (Kansas City Center, ZKC)
Noah Kreutzer, child of Jonathan Kreutzer (Denver Center, ZDV)
Dylan Leclerc, child of Austin Leclerc (Charlotte ATCT, CLT)
William Lloyd, child of Christopher Lloyd (Washington Center, ZDC)
Isaak Martinez, child of Erik Martinez (Houston TRACON, I90)
Braylen Miller, child of Brandon Miller (Potomac TRACON, PCT)
Macy Perigo, child of Kristi Perigo (Kansas City Center, ZKC)
Jeremiah West, child of Russell West (Baltimore ATCT, BWI)

NATCA New England’s Regional Leadership Team, including Regional Vice President Kevin Curtiss, Alternate Regional Vice President Jake Detwiler (Boston Center, ZBW), NNE Legislative Chair Bryan Loquet (Bangor ATCT, BGR), NNE Alternate Legislative Chair Tim Roig (Yankee TRACON, Y90), and NNE Training Representative Karen MacCrate (ZBW), attended the McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner in Nashua, N.H. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

Before the start of the event, NATCA leaders had the opportunity to engage Senator Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Senator Maggie Hassan (N.H.), and U.S. Representative Chris Pappas (N.H.-01) on a number of issues important to NATCA and air traffic controllers. RVP Kevin Curtiss thanked all legislators for their support of NATCA and air traffic controllers, noting the importance of pay parity for all Federal Aviation Administration employees in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

For May, the 2026 NATCA wall calendar features a photo of Dulles International ATCT (IAD) taken by local member Laura Elwood.

Dulles Tower is a level 10 FAA tower with 36 NATCA members. The facility services Dulles International Airport. Last year, the air traffic controllers at IAD serviced more than 29 million passengers, a record for the airport.

Fun fact: The airport was dedicated in 1962, becoming the first airport built specifically for jets. It is also the official shipping address for U.S. embassies worldwide.

Every safe flight is engineered by a team of controllers and aviation safety professionals who bring relentless focus and dedication to protecting the lives of passengers onboard.

Thanks to the commitment of these professionals, the world’s most complex transportation system runs safely.

NATCA President Nick Daniels was joined by Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President Steph Winder (NWM), National Training Representative Jamaal Haltom (Las Vegas ATCT, LAS), and Reloaded Vice Chair Kristi Perigo (Kansas City Center, ZKC) in hosting FAA Academy students in Oklahoma City. NATCA leaders were joined by at least a dozen NATCA members, offering students the opportunity to have their questions answered in a one-on-one fashion.

In all, more than 75 FAA Academy students attended the meet and greet on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. The evening provided an open forum for academy students to ask questions about Union membership, air safety, and what to expect at the start of their air traffic control career.

The next Oklahoma City meet and greet with FAA Academy students is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, 2026.