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Adam Magee
Adam Magee - Life Member
I’m running for the BFA Board because I bring two critical skills the organization currently lacks: nationally recognized aviation safety expertise and professional financial leadership.
SAFETY EXPERTISE - In a recent member survey, BFA members identified FAA engagement and safety program development as top priorities. I bring a nationally recognized skill set uniquely suited to these challenges—having been honored by the FAA as both the National FAA Flight Instructor of the Year and the National FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year. No other balloonist—and only a few in all of aviation—have received both awards. With increasing FAA regulatory pressures, including drones, airspace integration, training standards, and safety oversight, BFA needs experienced, nationally credible leadership. I bring relationships and expertise that the BFA Board currently lacks.
FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP - I’m a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with deep experience in financial management and nonprofit governance. The BFA currently does not have anyone on the board, including the treasurer, with CPA credentials. Strong financial oversight is essential to the organization’s future.
OVERCOME OBSTACLES - I was not selected by the BFA nominating committee to appear on this ballot, but I didn’t give up. Instead, I turned to the members, and they responded. My nomination comes from petition, from the membership itself in just a couple of days. Being denied a spot on this year’s ballot is just another opportunity to take a short-sighted decision and turn it into something meaningful, something I’ve done before. My leadership has been shaped by persistence and purpose. Thirteen years ago, I ran for the BFA Board with a vision to expand training resources. I was 21, already a commercial pilot, and had grown up in a ballooning family. I had volunteered at camps and even organized one myself. I saw the need for broader, more accessible training beyond youth camps. My wife and I proposed an online ground school to the BFA, but when the Board said it was a bad idea and didn't want it, we created it ourselves.
DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS - Ten years ago, we launched The Balloon Training Academy (BTA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to high-quality balloon training. Since then, BTA has helped thousands of pilots through private and commercial ground schools, instructor refreshers, FAA-endorsed safety programs, and educational materials—including the Advanced Balloon Flying Handbook and training syllabi available on Amazon. Our outreach has extended to hundreds of thousands of general aviation pilots. This work has been recognized through both of my national FAA awards. I also have been designated by the FAA as a DPE and have the privilege of giving practical exams for pilot certification.
SO WHY AM I RUNNING AGAIN?
Because I believe the BFA is on the verge of complete irrelevance. Membership is down, and with it, transparency and ability to be the voice of ballooning. I’ve given back to ballooning since I was a teenager—starting with balloon camp volunteering at 18, and now through BTA, which remains 100% volunteer-run. I’m running out of deep care for this community and belief in what BFA can be.
Yes, I’ve faced real challenges, including being ostracized and targeted by false claims within BFA circles. But rather than becoming jaded, those moments strengthened my resolve to help build a more inclusive, respectful organization, where all members feel valued and heard. Let's face it, membership is down a staggering 30% from just a few years ago. Held back by internal politics instead of focused on progress, it’s no wonder the BFA risks becoming irrelevant. It's time, before it’s too late, for a reimagined, forward looking organization that can thrive for generations to come.
In addition to ballooning education, I’ve served on several nonprofit boards: the BFA HACD, the National Balloon Museum, and the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI), where I’m currently Treasurer and Finance Chair. Under this board’s leadership, NAFI’s membership has grown by over 70% in 5 years. Professionally, I’m a CPA and serve as Vice President of Accounting at a $6.5 billion financial institution leading the Corporate Accounting team. I bring not only passion but critical skills in finance, operations, and nonprofit operations—skills currently missing from the BFA Board.
I’m running to help the BFA thrive—not just for today’s pilots, but for the future of ballooning, just as I did thirteen years ago.
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