Aviation Legend Ed Bolen, NBAA CEO for 22 Years, Dies at 66
The general aviation community is mourning the loss of one of its most influential figures. Ed Bolen, longtime president and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), died on November 11, 2026, following a battle with cancer. He was 66.
Bolen led the NBAA from 2004 until his retirement on November 6, 2026, serving as one of the aviation industry’s most enduring voices for nearly 22 years. Before joining the association, he was president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) from 1996 to 2004.
He also helped secure passage of the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994 and served on the FAA’s Management Advisory Council, which he chaired from 2000 to 2004.
Just one day before his death, Bolen was inducted into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame in recognition of decades of advocacy for safety, airspace access, and air traffic control modernization.
NBAA Acting CEO Dan Hubbard described Bolen as not only a colleague but also a friend and mentor to many across the industry. The NBAA board has begun a formal search for a permanent replacement.
Source: AOPA — GA Advocate Ed Bolen Dies