DAN ELWELL

President

Elwell & Associates, LLC

Prior to forming Elwell & Associates, Dan Elwell was Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration from June 2017 to November 2020.Before being appointed deputy administrator, Mr. Elwell was a senior advisor to Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.During his tenure as deputy administrator, Elwell served as Acting FAA Administrator from January 2018 until August 2019.

Elwell previously served at the FAA as the Assistant Administrator for Policy, Planning, and Environment from 2006–2008. Earlier in his career, he served as a legislative fellow for the late Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). From 2013–2015, as Senior Vice President for Safety, Security, and Operations at Airlines for America (A4A), Elwell was responsible for leading the advancement of commercial aviation safety and security excellence for major U.S. air carriers.

From 2008-2013, Mr. Elwell was Vice President of the Aerospace Industries Association. In this role, he represented civil aerospace manufacturers and led policy development and advocacy for the civil aerospace manufacturing industry – more than 300 companies making engines, airframes, space vehicles, satellites, and unmanned aircraft systems.

Elwell was a commercial pilot for 16 years with American Airlines, flying DC-10, MD-80, and B-757/767 aircraft. While maintaining his proficiency as an MD-80 Captain, he served as Managing Director for International and Government Affairs at American Airlines.

Dan earned his pilot wings at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Affairs. Lieutenant Colonel Elwell retired from military service as a Command Pilot with more than 6,000 hours combined civilian and military flight time in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Air Force Reserve, including combat service during Operation Desert Storm.

He currently serves on several private and public boards, including Alaska Airlines Group.

HOLLY E. WOODRUFF LYONS

President

HWL Aerospace Policy, LLC

Holly Woodruff Lyons is the founder and President of HWL Aerospace Policy, LLC, a government relations consulting firm that provides clients with strategic counsel and legislative assistance on aerospace policy.

Prior to forming HWL Aerospace Policy, Holly was the Republican Staff Director and Senior Counsel of the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Aviation.  She retired at the end of 2021 after serving on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff since 2002 where she served in several different capacities, including as Deputy General Counsel of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure from 2014 – 2018.

During her almost 20 years of Hill experience, Holly worked on a number of legislative efforts including every Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board reauthorization bill or law since 2003.  She was the lead House drafter and negotiator of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018; the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016; and the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012; and the lead House Republican drafter and negotiator of the AircraftCertification, Safety, and Accountability Act in 2020.  Holly also helped draft and negotiate the Airline Safety Act of 2010; the European Union ETS Prohibition Act of 2011; and the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013.

Prior to joining the committee, Holly was an attorney in the FAA’s Office of the Chief Counsel, Airport and Environmental Law Division, and before that, worked in private legal practice and higher education.

She graduated from Colgate University and the University of San Diego School of Law.  She is a member of the Bar in Colorado.

Holly resides with her husband Mark Lyons (USMC retired) in Fernandina Beach, Florida.

PAUL DOERRER

President

The Doerrer Group, LLC

Paul Doerrer founded The Doerrer Group, LLC in 2008 to advise clients on federal budget and public policy matters.  Doerrer has extensive experience with the federal budget and appropriations process as well as civil aviation, aerospace and defense, and transportation policy.  On behalf of his clients, he has influenced legislation, secured federal funding, developed new business opportunities with the federal agencies, and facilitated industry partnerships.

Before becoming a government relations consultant, Doerrer served on the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations for more than seven years.  As subcommittee staff director and majority clerk of the Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Doerrer had direct policy and funding responsibility for the Department of Transportation and the National Transportation Safety Board.  Until the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security in 2003, he also was responsible for funding and oversight of the Transportation Security Administration and developed the first account structure for the agency.  Following a reorganization of the committee in 2003, Doerrer served as staff director of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Departments of Transportation and the Treasury, Executive Office of the President, and 18 independent agencies including the General Services Administration. 

 During this time, Doerrer advocated for the prerogatives of the appropriations committee and advanced other policy priorities during consideration of authorization legislation.  Doerrer drafted key provisions and funding formulas for the surface transportation authorization act, known as SAFETEA-LU.  Doerrer also played a role in major provisions of other transportation legislation, including The Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act, Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21) Act, and Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act.

Prior to joining the Appropriations Committee, Doerrer served as the military legislative assistant to Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) and as associate staff of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Defense.  He handled matters related to missile defense, special operations, missile and weapons procurement, Army aviation, and chemical weapon demilitarization. Doerrer also handled appropriations matters and policy issues related to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

 Doerrer began his career on Capitol Hill in 1994 as a staff assistant in the office of then-Congressman Jim Talent (R-MO), where he was later promoted to legislative assistant.  He received a B.A. from St. Louis University in 1992.