Will Ris recently retired from American Airlines where he had led the global government affairs team for the previous 20 years.  He began his career in aviation as a trial lawyer with the Civil Aeronautics Board.  He subsequently was appointed counsel to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation where he was engaged in drafting the Airline Deregulation Act.  In 2015, he was awarded the prestigious Donald D. Engen Trophy for Aviation Excellence by the Aero Club of Washington.