Former resident receives award

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Former Sikeston, Mo., resident Garland "Cas" Castleberry was recently awarded aviation's 2006 Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award. He was honored at a special dinner in Washington at the annual conference and exposition of the Air Traffic Control Association.

The Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award is dedicated to the memory of one of the recognized "Fathers of Air Traffic Control" and honors the lifelong achievements of an individual in the field of aviation. The award trophy is inscribed with recipient names.

Castleberry was recognized for his exceptional career achievements in a wide variety of leadership positions, and his steadfast dedication to the advancement of air traffic control. He recently served as president of the Air Traffic Control Association, a position he was asked to fill a year ago just as he was heading into retirement from a senior position at the Harris Corporation.

A 1954 graduate of Sikeston High School, Castleberry background in aviation began with service in the Navy. He was with the U.S. State Department Foreign Service, and the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller and supervisor, achieving the Presidential rank of Meritorious Executive in the Senior Executive Service. He served in several key executive positions in the FAA including: associate administrator for Aviation Standards; regional administrator, Southern Region; director, Aeronautical Center; deputy regional director, Alaskan Region; director of Congressional Affairs for two FAA administrators; executive assistant to three FAA administrators; deputy U.S. representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization appointed by President Gerald Ford; and the U.S. member of the Air Navigation Commission of ICAO.

Certificated as a private pilot and recipient of numerous awards, Castleberry was a cum laude graduate of Memphis State University, has completed graduate work at George Washington and Princeton Universities and was a Princeton Fellow in Public Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School. He was a Congressional Fellow then served three years as legislative assistant to a senior Congressman.

He has served on ATCA's Board of Directors as chairman and treasurer, chairman of the Finance Committee, chairman of ATCA's Aviation Education Committee, and member of the International Committee. Also Castleberry served as chairman of the Government Electronic Information Technology Association ATC Committee, and chairman of the Atlanta Federal Executive Board. He has been a moderator, panelist and speaker at many ATCA events as well as lead member of many FAA international delegations.

ATCA is the world's leading association of individuals and organizations from government, military, corporate, scientific, academic and other sectors dedicated to the operation and science of air traffic control. Its members include controllers, engineers, scientists, manufacturers, air space system user, and academics.

The Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award is on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Washington.