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Nick Calio Honored by Bryce Harlow Foundation

May 01, 2025

Airlines for America (A4A) President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio was honored last night at the 44th annual Bryce Harlow Foundation Awards reception, where he received the 2025 Business Government Relations Award.

“Success has many authors. Over the years, I have been blessed to work with so many smart, talented people,” Calio said upon receiving the award. “We are here tonight to look forward, to invest in the next generation of lobbyists – those who will follow in our footsteps, will shape industries for years to come and who will impact policy decisions for our country.”

The Bryce Harlow Foundation is dedicated to advancing the integrity of government advocacy and increasing understanding of its important role in the development of sound public policy. The Business Government Relations Award honors an individual in the professional advocacy community that has an exemplary lifelong career in the profession.

Calio was introduced by his daughter, Jessie Calio, who followed in her father’s footsteps and built a successful career as a lobbyist and advocate.

“One of the foundation’s core principles is bipartisanship – an attribute my dad wholeheartedly believes in,” Jessie said. “His ability to work across the aisle, starting with his work for the first Bush Administration and manifesting itself in almost every career victory he has had is central to his belief that bipartisanship must be front and center in this line of work.”

Calio’s career has spanned across Washington, working in both Bush Administrations, launching his own lobbying firm and most recently working at A4A where he advocates for U.S. airlines domestically and internationally. Under his leadership, Airlines for America has played an instrumental role in working with Congress, the Administration, labor and industry partners to ensure the survival of the airline industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent recovery.

“I’m not here because of me, but I am here to inspire and encourage the next generation of lobbyists and leaders,” Calio said. “The people who are working their tails off, getting little attention at all, who are loyal, who have integrity and are working to constantly improve the quality, the standards, the productivity of American life.”

The ceremony also included a video featuring Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), former Speaker of the House John Boehner and Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD). The leaders lauded Nick for his bipartisanship and ability to build strong coalitions that bring about consensus.

Throughout his career, Calio has been well-known for his bipartisan attitude and ability to build diverse coalitions that bring about consensus.

“If you build meaningful, genuine relationships built on honesty and maintain them with integrity, then you can negotiate in good faith and trust,” Calio said. “And reach consensus, even among some of the most challenging and divergent groups.”

Calio was honored along with Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), who received the Bryce Harlow Award.