Rockville, MD Thursday, January 23, 2020 – DIGITALiBiz, Inc. (iBiz) announced today that the company has hired former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official and current member of the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) Board of Directors, Michael Hawthorne. As Vice President of Transportation Solutions and Strategies at iBiz, Mr. Hawthorne will be responsible for operations and business development efforts supporting the company’s transportation contracts, particularly programs supporting critical FAA NextGen initiatives. He will also be a member of the iBiz executive leadership team that works together to determine the company’s overall corporate strategy and direction.

“We welcome Mike to the iBiz team where he will help us continue to provide outstanding service and value to our customers, particularly across our aviation contracts and programs,” said Steve Murray, iBiz President. “With more than 30 years of technical, programmatic, and international aviation experience, Mike brings a wealth of valuable expertise and perspective.”

Mr. Hawthorne began his career as a cooperative education student at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center, researching and developing technologies that would eventually become foundational to NextGen and Trajectory Based Operations (TBO). Building on his early experiences, he relocated to FAA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and played a leadership role in the development and implementation of multiple large-scale, complex programs, including Data Communications, En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM), and System Wide Information Management (SWIM). Mr. Hawthorne also coordinated the Air Traffic Organization’s (ATO) international activities in the Americas, served as the ATO’s liaison to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and served as a Senior Advisor in the FAA’s Office of Aviation Policy and Plans. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology, a master’s degree in Public Administration, and a Project Management Professional Certification.