Dan Elwell, President & Managing Partner
Prior to forming Elwell & Associates, Dan Elwell was Senior Vice President for Safety, Security and Operations at Airlines for America “A4A” where he was responsible for leading the U.S. airline industry’s efforts to advance safety and security while improving operational efficiency. He served as the industry’s liaison in these areas with governmental agencies, including the Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection.
Before joining A4A, Mr. Elwell was Vice President of Civil Aviation at the Aerospace Industries Association – the nation’s premier advocacy organization for the aerospace and defense manufacturing industry. Dan was responsible for AIA’s activities on civil aviation issues and policy, including the areas of environment, research and development, aviation infrastructure, safety and security for commercial, business and general aviation.
Mr. Elwell came to AIA after serving a political appointment as FAA’s Assistant Administrator for Aviation Policy, Planning and Environment under FAA Administrator Marion Blakey. He was responsible for the agency's strategic policy and planning efforts and coordination of the agency's reauthorization before Congress. Prior to joining the FAA, Dan was a MD-80 Captain and Managing Director of International and Government Affairs for American Airlines. During sixteen years with American, Elwell flew the DC-10, MD-80 and B-757/767 aircraft.
Before joining American Airlines, Elwell served seven years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force.After he left active duty, and while a pilot at American Airlines, Mr. Elwell flew C-141s in the Air Force Reserve at Norton Air Force Base, CA and Andrews Air Force Base, MD. Twice during his career at American Airlines, Elwell was called back to active duty service in the Air Force. His Reserve C-141 unit was called to active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and, from 1999-2000, Dan took a military leave of absence to serve as a congressional fellow in the office of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens where he was responsible for Alaskan aviation issues and defense spending accounts as a Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee staff representative.
Dan is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Lieutenant Colonel Elwell retired from the Air Force Reserve as a Command Pilot with over 6,000 hours combined civilian and military flight time. He is a member of National Academies of Science Aeronautics Research and Technology Roundtable and is on the advisory boards of InterVISTAS Consulting Group and Drone NavCom, LLC.
Mr. Elwell lives with his wife and three children in Northern Virginia.
David Mandell - Principal
David Mandell comes to Elwell & Associates with vast experience and relationships in both the public and private aerospace sectors. Most recently, Mandell was the Vice President, Membership and Business Development, for the Aerospace Industries Association, the oldest and most prestigious association representing the aerospace and defense manufacturers. David was responsible for leading the largest growth in the Association’s nearly 100 year history between 2009 and 2014.
David also served as the Chief of Staff to Administrator, Marion C. Blakey, of the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) in Washington, DC. In this role, David was responsible for assisting the Administrator in the day-to-day management of the Federal Aviation Administration - - a 50,000 person organization, with a 14 billion dollar budget. He was a key advisor to the Administrator on all policy, press, legal, and management issues and helped lead the development and execution of the first five-year strategic business plan for the agency that tied organizational goals to employees’ pay. Before joining the FAA, David was Counsel to the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board and a corporate litigator at the law firm of Blank Rome in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
David currently serves on the Board of The Aero Club of Washington, DC, the Board of the Royal Aeronautical Society of Washington, DC, the Advisory Board of NanoVapor, and the Advisory Board of Drone NavCom