On September 29, 2010, the U.S. Senate officially confirmed Duane E. Woerth as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). 

Woerth was most recently the senior vice president at an Internet advertising firm in Omaha, Nebraska, that he co-founded. From 1999 to 2006, he served as president of the Air Line Pilots Association. Immediately following the attacks of 9/11, he was appointed by United States Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta to serve on the Rapid Response Team for Aircraft Security. Additionally, he was co-chairman of the Next Generation Air Transportation System Executive Council, a private sector organization developed to work with the Department of Transportation and FAA to modernize the national airspace system through 2025. Woerth earned a B.S. in business from the University of Nebraska and a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. He served in the United States Air Force and the Kansas Air National Guard and retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Woerth was nominated for the position by President Obama on July 1, 2010. The delay in confirmation left the United States at a disadvantage since the position had been vacant for 18 months. 

Last week, NATA joined other aviation industry groups in a joint letter to Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) requesting timely attention to the final confirmation of Woerth. 

For general press inquiries, contact Shannon Chambers at 703-298-1347 or schambers@nata.aero. 

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has been the voice of aviation business for more than 80 years. Representing nearly 3,700 aviation businesses, NATA’s member companies provide a broad range of services to general aviation, the airlines and the military and NATA serves as the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies.