There’s an undeniable electricity and excitement associated with fast and loud planes that tends to ignite a fire for aviation. Tommy Gantz experienced that spark when her Uncle Ronnie took her to the Reno Air Races in 2009. From that day forward, aviation wasn’t just a passion — it became her life. Tommy will tell you that the best day of her life was getting married in the pits at the Reno Air Races in 2012 under the F-7F Tigercat called “Here Kitty Kitty.” To this day, she and her husband continue to share a love for the air races and serve as pylon judges.
Her professional background is vastly unique and yet entirely relevant to the aviation industry, making her an invaluable asset to the greater aerospace community. Before working in the aviation industry, Tommy worked for a small jewelry company called Ajmer by Jodi, where she spent part of her time seeking out gems at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. From there, she moved on to a larger jewelry firm and managed a retail location, building her experience in customer relations and expertise in the market. Later, Tommy joined The Boeing Company as a supply chain analyst, supporting the Fleet Care Program for Boeing Global Services. She fostered her experience in customer relations and the aerospace world, managing commercial derivative procurements for both the KC-46 and VC-25B. Since 2019, Tommy has served as the government affairs director for Tax & Fiscal Policy and Manufacturing for the Association of Washington Business. At AWB, she’s leading the way in doubling the number of manufacturers in the state of Washington.
Tommy’s passion for aviation is evident in her everyday life and is rather contagious. She has encountered so many influential individuals in the aerospace industry who have inspired her and championed her journey, and now she’s doing the same for future up-and-coming leaders. In her spare time, Tommy volunteers as a docent at the Museum of Flight in Tukwila, where she connects with visitors, shares her passion for aerospace, gives a voice to history, and inspires the next generation of aerospace leaders. Her dedication doesn’t end there, though. Tommy shares her voice with several organizations throughout the Puget Sound area, representing and advocating for growth and stability in the aerospace industry’s footprint in the Pacific Northwest. She’s a member of the Museum of Flight’s Speaker’s Bureau, Museum of Flight King County Airport Authority Board, and serves as the chair of the business development committee for the Aerospace Futures Alliance, the Department of Revenue’s Business Advisory Council, and the Seattle Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Tommy’s message to those seeking their place in the industry is, if you have a passion for the industry, there is a place for you, and you belong.
Tommy Gantz
Government Affairs Director, Tax & Fiscal Policy, Manufacturing AWB
PO Box 658, Olympia, WA 98507-0658
360.943.1600 / m 360.870.2915
