The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) applauded yesterday’s vote by the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to advance Michael Graham’s nomination for a second, five-year term on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to an upcoming vote by the full chamber.

Graham, who was nominated by President Trump to serve a second term on the board earlier this year, is a staunch aviation safety advocate who frequently engages with NBAA and the business aviation community on industry safety matters.

Prior to taking the oath of office as the 45th member of the NTSB in January 2020, he worked for more than 20 years at Textron Aviation, ultimately serving as director of flight operations safety, security and standardization. He also launched the company’s Aviation Safety Action Program, which has served as a model for Part 91 operators.

He participates regularly in NBAA’s annual Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) and other association events, and he previously served as chair of the NBAA Safety Committee’s Single Pilot Safety Working Group.

He also served as chair of the Air Charter Safety Foundation and Board of Governors and was a member of the General Aviation Information Analysis Team. He also received Flight Safety Foundation’s 2019 Business Aviation Meritorious Service Award.

Graham began his aviation career in the US Navy, flying A-7s and F/A-18s. He also developed an occupational safety and health program, for which he received a Navy Achievement Medal, and he twice received the Top Eleven Award for best landing grades aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

He is a 10,000-hour pilot, holds airline transport pilot certification and is type rated in six different Citation models. Graham earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico.