MILLS NAMED TO OHIO AVIATION ASSOCIATION BOARD
 Dr. Russell W. Mills |
Dr. Russell W. Mills has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Ohio Aviation Association (OAA), the association announced Dec. 13.
“This organization is the voice of aviation in the state of Ohio,” said Mills, an associate professor of aviation studies and political science and the director of strategic initiatives for Bowling Green State University’s aviation program, which is a partnership with North Star Aviation. He is one of only two OAA board members from academia.
“This is a very active, working board, and I enjoy being part of the association,” Mills said. He was asked to join by past president Greg Heaton, who was familiar with him from Mills’ former position as a policy analyst with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Since becoming involved with the OAA, he has served on the education committee and will now serve as vice chair of the advocacy committee.
The nonprofit Ohio Aviation Association comprises airport managers and directors, educational institutions and consultants in addition to representatives from companies that provide support to aviation such as construction contractors and equipment providers and others. It serves to advocate for all the Ohio airports, from smaller regional ones like Wood County Regional Airport to the larger, international ones like Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, and raise Ohio’s awareness of the importance of aviation to the state — which is “the birthplace of aviation,” Mills said.
“We would like to increase our contact with state legislators and eventually create a statewide incentive program to support our commercial airports,” Mills said. “Along with advocacy, we also provide professional development for our members.”
His membership in the OAA will benefit aviation students back at BGSU, whom he will take to the association’s annual conference, where they can meet representatives from airports and airlines.
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