Faye Malarkey Black

Faye Malarkey Black serves as President and CEO of the Regional Airline Association, and has led the organization since February 2015. In her role, she leads an industry trade organization representing 22 North American regional airlines and 150 associate members. In the United States, RAA member airlines operate 41 percent of the flights, employ 59,000 individuals, and provide the only source of scheduled, passenger air service to two-thirds of the nation’s airports.
Ms. Black oversees the daily operations of the Association, develops and executes its policy and business objectives, and serves as the primary spokesperson for the regional airline industry. Ms. Black is dedicated to promoting and advancing safe, reliable air service to every corner of the country. As a lifelong advocate of small community air service, Ms. Black has successfully defended against attempts to dismantle the Essential Air Service program and raised national awareness of the growing global pilot shortage. Under her leadership, the Association has built cross-industry coalitions and developed a new, collaborative approach to attracting and supporting the next generation of aviation professionals.
With more than two decades of experience in policy, strategic leadership, business development, and management, Ms. Black has served the RAA since 1998 and was formerly senior vice president - government affairs. Ms. Black began her career in Pennsylvania, holding key positions in voter targeting and communications in 1994 and 1996 coordinated state campaigns. She formerly worked for U.S. Senator Harris Wofford and later served as an executive at Smithbucklin Corporation, providing strategic advice to trade associations seeking to build effective advocacy programs and helping emerging businesses in developing democracies develop business support networks under a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) subcontract.
Ms. Black serves on the Board of Governors of the Aero Club of Washington and is the Board liaison to the Aero Club Foundation, which connects DC public and charter school students with aviation opportunities and financial support. Ms. Black serves on the RTCA Policy Board and the NextGen Institute Management Council, two public/private initiatives focused on improvements to the Air Transportation System. Ms. Black is a member of the Transportation Research Board’s Standing Committee on Light Commercial and General Aviation and was appointed to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Working Group on Small Community Air Service.
Ms. Black holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh. She resides in Washington, DC with her husband and two children.