William W. Hoover is currently a consultant for aviation, defense, and energy matters. He is the former Executive Vice President of the Air Transport Association of America, where he represented the interests of the U.S. major airlines industry, particularly related to technical, safety, and security issues. Prior to holding this position, he served as the Assistant Secretary, Defense Programs, U.S. Department of Energy, where he was responsible for the U.S. nuclear weapons development program, including production, research, testing, safety, and security. He is also a Major General, USAF (retired) and held positions of responsibility within NATO, at the Pentagon with the Secretary of the Air Force, and in Vietnam, where he commanded a combat air wing and flew as a fighter pilot. General Hoover currently serves as Chairman of the National Research Council's Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board. He holds a BS in Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, an MS in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and is a distinguished graduate of the National War College.