George Novak is the president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Air Carrier Association (NACA), an organization of twenty-one Part 121 air carriers providing passenger, charter and cargo air services. Before joining NACA in July 2018, George was the Assistant Vice President and Regulatory Counsel for Civil Aviation at the Aerospace Industries Association, where he was responsible for monitoring and identifying emerging issues and trends related to aviation safety, regulatory framework and oversight policy. He has served as a member of the Executive Board of the FAA Civil Aviation Safety Team (CAST) and on the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC).



Prior to joining the trade association world, George served as an aviation attorney and consultant, managing transport sector projects in more than 70 countries, working with senior government officials on ICAO compliance strategies and with international development banks on the privatization and development of modernized transportation infrastructure. He has led teams to develop transportation infrastructure projects in numerous post-conflict environments, including Afghanistan and Rwanda. George was Senior Research Scientist and Program Administrator of the International Summits on Aviation Safety and Security, a Congressionally mandated FAA program at the George Washington University, where he lectured on international aviation law and safety standards. He began his career in the Chief Counsel’s Office of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and has served as in-house counsel to emerging technology companies and strategic consulting firms. George is a frequent lecturer and media commentator on the aviation industry and aviation laws and regulations. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Washington & Jefferson College and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.