Award Highlights Blakey’s Leadership

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce honored Marion Blakey ’70 with its Carol B. Hallett award, which recognizes excellence in the aviation industry, at its annual Aviation Summit in March in Washington, D.C.

The timing coincided with Blakey’s announcement that she will retire as CEO of Rolls-Royce North America, a position she has held for three years. The Rolls-Royce executive role capped Blakey’s long career in public service and private-sector aerospace and defense roles.

Under President George W. Bush, Blakey served first as chair of the National Transportation Safety Board and then as administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), with responsibility for the entire national air space system.
After leaving the FAA in 2007, Blakey, who studied international relations, served as president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association before assuming the Rolls-Royce leadership.