Santa Maria, CA , October 15, 2024 – Chris Kunkle, President, Central Coast Jet Center, was recently named a Top 40 Under 40 recipient by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).  He will be presented with the award at the NBAA annual meeting in Las Vegas later this month. 
 
Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Washington, DC, the NBAA is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful.  The association represents more than 11,000 companies and professionals, and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community. 
 
The Top 40 Under 40 Award is NBAA’s way to acknowledge and honor young aviation professionals under 40 who are innovative thinkers and are leading the aviation industry into a new generation of aviation.
 
The NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition is the world’s largest aviation trade show.  In acknowledging this award, Kunkle said “I am so very proud and grateful to be a third-generation pilot and aviation businessman, and to carry on the incredible Fixed Base Operation (FBO) business my dad started at the Santa Maria Airport in 2013.”    The Central Coast Jet Center is a premier FBO on the west coast, as well as the closest FBO to the Hawaiian Islands.  It is also one of the few civilian FBOs in the US that can legally perform Rapid Refueling on rotor and fixed-wing aircraft.  Kunkle further stated “As a progressive business, we are always looking for new technology, methods, and strategies to run more efficiently while keeping our known level of service.”
 
Kunkle has been president of the Central Coast Jet Center since the passing of his father in 2022.  He is a graduate of Chico State and lives in Solvang, Calif with his wife Tori and daughter Piper.