About Us
AAAEâ¬"s Regulatory Affairs Department represents our airport members before the many government agencies that direct Federal aviation policy. The AAAE Regulatory Affairs staff are in continuous communication with senior policy staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among others. Through our Regulatory Alerts and Advisories, we keep the AAAE membership up to date on developing issues of concern to airports and airport management.
The AAAE Regulatory Affairs team mission is, â¬STo provide AAAEâ¬"s Regulatory Membership with timely and accurate Information about Federal laws and regulations pending that affect the way airports conduct business on a daily basis; To represent the airportâ¬"s best interest before the Federal Government and others; To provide training and services that enhances the industryâ¬"s professionalism And ability to serve its customers in a safe, efficient and effective manner; And to improve and develop business opportunities for the benefit of AAAEâ¬"s Regulatory Membership.â¬?
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Melissa Sabatine
Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
703-824-0500 ext. 138
Melissa Sabatine serves as the Vice President for Regulatory Affairs at AAAE. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Regulatory Affairs Department, representing airports before federal agencies, and communicating with members.
Sabatine has served in a series of senior-level policy positions in Washington including Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of Transportation for both Secretary Mary Peters and Secretary Norman Mineta; Associate Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration; and Deputy Director of the Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry. She also has worked in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, as well as in the private sector for a public affairs firm and a trade association.
A native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Sabatine is a graduate of Duquesne University, where she majored in political science and journalism.
Natalie Johnston
Director, Regulatory Affairs
703-824-0500, ext. 151
Johnston will focus on airport environmental, operations, safety and general aviation issues. Johnston joins AAAE from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), where she was a management and program analyst in the Office of Accident Investigation and Prevention. At FAA she supported the activities of the FAA Safety Team and Commercial Aviation Safety Team and was the team lead in analyzing contributing factors for general aviation fatal accidents. Johnston also served as an aviation safety analyst for PAI Consulting and as a crew scheduler and safety analyst for Atlantic Southeast Airlines. Johnston is a private pilot as well as a graduate of Georgia State University, where she studied Aviation Transportation Management, Public Administration and Urban Studies.
Janet Skelly
Manager, Special Projects and Communications
703-824-0500, ext. 180
Skelly's primary roles at AAAE will be managing the Regulatory Affairs webinar program and assisting with the department's member outreach and communications projects. Prior to joining AAAE, Skelly worked as Manager of Membership & Programs at Association Management Group, a company that manages nearly 20 small non-profit associations. Among her responsibilities was assisting with various projects related to state and federal legislative affairs. Skelly is a graduate of Elon University where she studied Business Administration with a concentration in marketing.
Gwen Papineau
Director, Legislative and Regulatory Communication
703-824-0500 ext. 187
Papineau is Director of Legislative and Regulatory Communication for the Airport Legislative Alliance. Papineau is involved in literally all aspects of the ALA effort including covering House and Senate hearings, media relations, fundraising, research, grassroots communication, publications, meeting planning and issue coverage. Prior to joining AAAE in 2004 Papineauâ¬"s political and communications skills were honed in the Senate Judiciary Committee and at the Vermont Governorâ¬"s Commission on Women.
