The Royal Aeronautical Society, DC Branch is the awarding body for the Transatlantic Leading Edge Award. This award celebrates the enduring legacy of aerospace innovation and technology cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Honorees
Transatlantic Leading Edge Award was inaugurated in 2012 and has honored some of the great leaders and influencers in modern aviation.
Past Award Winners
2025
Sir Stephen Hillier, GCB CBE DFC, Air Chief Marshal RAF (Ret), Chair, UK Civil Aviation Authority
2024
Ms. Lynne Embleton, CEO, Air Lingus
2020
Sir Richard Branson, Chief Executive, Virgin Group
2019
Ms. Marillyn Hewson, President & CEO, Lockheed Martin
2018
Mr. Willie Walsh, CEO, International Airlines Group
2017
Ms. Margaret “Peggy” Gilligan, Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
2016
LT GEN Christopher C. Bogdan, USAF, Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, Department of Defense
2015
Mr. Jim Guyette, President & CEO, Rolls Royce North America, Inc.
2014
Mr. Barry Eccleston, President & CEO, Airbus Americas, Inc.
2013
Mr. David J. Barger, President & CEO, JetBlue Airways
2012
Mr. William R. Voss, President & CEO, Flight Safety Foundation
Nominations
The criteria for nomination and selection of award winners are determined by the Branch’s Board. Nominations are considered annually. A nominee must be an individual, not an organization or business.
To be considered, candidates must have made significant contributions to the U.S. or UK aerospace industry (contributions to the broader aerospace ecosystem may not disqualify nominations and are considered on a case-by-case basis) in one or more of the following:
- Technology
- Safety
- Policy
- Business
- Statecraft/Diplomacy
