NBAA Military Connect Program Supports Veterans Entering Business Aviation at 2026 NBAA-BACE
Why It MattersBusiness aviation's replacement-hiring pressure is pushing the sector to build structured pipelines for veterans, treating military talent as a workforce source that employers must be ready to absorb and retain.
What happened
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) runs a Military Connect program to help veterans prepare for careers in business aviation. A dedicated full-day Military Connect event for transitioning military personnel will take place at the 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas, October 20-22, 2026.
Forecasts indicate the industry will need more than 100,000 new professionals over the next decade, both to support continued growth and to replace retiring employees. Employers named include business aircraft operators, aircraft manufacturers, maintenance organizations, charter operators, airports, fixed base operators (FBOs), avionics companies, software developers and aviation technology firms. They are looking for people who demonstrate leadership, accountability, teamwork, adaptability and sound decision-making.
Military Connect offers resources and in-person events for veterans, plus guidance to companies on building veteran-ready organizations through personalized advocacy and mentorship.
At the convention, Military Connect programming runs on Wednesday as a free, full-day experience combining career education, networking and employer access. Active-duty military personnel receive complimentary admission by presenting a military ID at an NBAA-BACE registration counter. Active-duty and recently retired veterans can attend Wednesday's programming for free and can attend all three days of NBAA-BACE at a discounted rate of $170.
The Wednesday schedule
The day opens with a Military Connect Kickoff from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), West Hall, Horizon Stage.
From 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. in Room W219, a session titled "From Veteran-Friendly to Veteran-Ready: Building Organizations That Support Military Talent" is scheduled. A veteran-led session, "Mission-Ready for Business Aviation: A Veteran's Guide to Career Transition," follows from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Room W219, focused on resume translation, SkillBridge, networking and the civilian cultural shift.
The day closes with a Military Meetup in the Career Zone, West Hall, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Industry impact & what to watch
The 100,000-professional figure frames this event as part of a workforce problem more than a goodwill gesture. When a segment must both grow and replace retirees, the supply of trained people becomes a constraint on capacity, and veterans with leadership and decision-making experience are one obvious pool to draw from.
The program's two-sided design, with preparation for veterans and guidance for employers on becoming veteran-ready, reflects how such hiring works in practice: translating military experience into civilian job requirements is a task for both candidate and employer, and the Wednesday sessions on resume translation and organizational readiness address each side.
The next milestone is the event itself on October 20-22, where employer participation in the Career Zone and Military Meetup will show how many of the listed sectors are actively recruiting.
