HWL Aerospace Policy, LLC

HWL Aerospace Policy, LLC is a government relations consulting firm that provides clients with strategic counsel and legislative assistance on aerospace policy. Firm founder and President, Holly Woodruff Lyons, has the experience and expertise required to help clients navigate the legislative and regulatory landscape and develop strategies to address issues and create solutions in a complicated Congressional environment.

Services:

Consultation, strategic planning, and legislative drafting in various aerospace subject areas including aerospace safety and certification; airline, general aviation, advanced air mobility, and drone/UAS policy; FAA operations; international aviation policy; environment and sustainability; aerospace and air traffic control cybersecurity; NTSB operations; air traffic control modernization; airport policy; and commercial space transportation.

About Holly

Holly Woodruff Lyons is the founder and President of HWL Aerospace Policy, LLC.  

Prior to forming HWL Aerospace Policy, Holly was the Republican Staff Director and Senior Counsel of the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Aviation.  She retired at the end of 2021 after serving on the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure staff since 2002 where she served in several different capacities, including as Deputy General Counsel of the Committee from 2014 - 2018. 

During her almost 20 years of Hill experience, Holly worked on a number of legislative efforts including every Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board reauthorization bill and law since 2002.  She was the lead House drafter and negotiator of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018; the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016; and the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012; and the lead House Republican drafter and negotiator of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act in 2020.  Holly also helped draft and negotiate the Airline Safety Act of 2010; the European Union ETS Prohibition Act of 2011; and the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013.

Prior to joining the committee, Holly was an attorney in the FAA’s Office of the Chief Counsel, Airport and Environmental Law Division, and before that, worked in private legal practice and higher education. 

She graduated from Colgate University and the University of San Diego School of Law.  She is a member of the Bar in Colorado.

Holly's Expertise

The Founder and President of HWL Aerospace Policy, Holly Woodruff Lyons, developed, drafted, and negotiated virtually every civil aerospace law that has been considered by the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the United States Congress over the last 20 years.  She has extensive knowledge of the civil aviation and commercial space portions of the United States Code and the regulations put in place to carry out the law.  During her nearly two decades on the Hill, Holly honed her skills in researching complex legal issues, developing creative legislative solutions, drafting legislative language to implement those solutions, and shaping a strategy to have those solutions presented to and considered by key Congressional players.  She is uniquely qualified to help clients during the upcoming Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill cycle given her role as a lead drafter and negotiator of every FAA reauthorization bill since 2007. 

Strategic Aerospace Alliance

Dan Elwell, Co-founder

Founder and President of Elwell & Associates, Dan Elwell was Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration from June 2017 to November 2020. Before being appointed deputy administrator, Mr. Elwell was a senior advisor to Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. During his tenure as deputy administrator, Elwell served as Acting FAA Administrator from January 2018 until August 2019.

Elwell previously served at the FAA as the Assistant Administrator for Policy, Planning, and Environment from 2006–2008. Earlier in his career, he served as a legislative fellow for the late Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). From 2013–2015, as Senior Vice President for Safety, Security, and Operations at Airlines for America (A4A), Elwell was responsible for leading the advancement of commercial aviation safety and security excellence for major U.S. air carriers.

From 2008-2013, Mr. Elwell was Vice President of the Aerospace Industries Association. In this role, he represented civil aerospace manufacturers and led policy development and advocacy for the civil aerospace manufacturing industry – more than 300 companies making engines, airframes, space vehicles, satellites, and unmanned aircraft systems.

Elwell was a commercial pilot for 16 years with American Airlines, flying DC-10, MD-80, and B-757/767 aircraft. While maintaining his proficiency as an MD-80 Captain, he served as Managing Director for International and Government Affairs at American Airlines.

Dan earned his pilot wings at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Affairs. Lieutenant Colonel Elwell retired from military service as a Command Pilot with more than 6,000 hours combined civilian and military flight time in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Air Force Reserve, including combat service during Operation Desert Storm.

He currently serves on several private and public boards, including Alaska Airlines Group.