NBAA Welcomes NASA Astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly to NBAA-BACE

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) announced today that American astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly will serve as keynote speakers at NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), taking place Oct. 10-12 in Las Vegas, NV. The brothers will headline the event’s second-day Opening General Session on Oct. 11.

"We are honored to welcome Mark and Scott Kelly to NBAA-BACE," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "They are truly remarkable figures in America's aviation and aerospace industry, and we know attendees will appreciate hearing the lessons they’ve taken from their distinguished military service, participation in the space program and their experiences in leadership and overcoming obstacles.”

The identical twin brothers served with distinction as U.S. Navy aviators, and retired as decorated captains before joining NASA in 1996. Both went on to have distinguished careers at NASA, where they each flew into orbit four times.

Mark Kelly's first trip to space was as pilot of the STS-108 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2001. Over the next decade, he flew three more missions to the station, spending more than 50 days in orbit and commanding both the Space Shuttle Discovery and Space Shuttle Endeavour, including the latter's final flight in May 2011.

He previously served as keynote speaker at NBAA's 2015 Flight Attendants/Flight Technicians Conference. He holds a bachelor's degree in marine engineering and nautical science from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, from which he graduated in 1986 with highest honors, and he received a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1994.

Scott Kelly spent a combined 520 days in orbit, commanding the STS-118 mission to the ISS, as well as Expeditions 26, 44 and 45 onboard the station. His final stay spanned from March 2015 to March 2016, during which time he participated in NASA’s Twins Study to measure the physiological effects of weightlessness during long-duration spaceflights. Scientists compared Scott’s in-orbit test results with those from his brother, who served as a ground-based control subject during the study.

Scott Kelly received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the State University of New York Maritime College in 1987, and a master’s degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1996.

NBAA-BACE is business aviation’s most important annual event, where participants have an unequaled opportunity to view the latest business aircraft, products, technology, and services the industry offers. Held this year at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Henderson Executive Airport, the event also offers a premier networking venue and dozens of educational sessions.