Washington Airports Task Force

What Washington Airports Task Force does

Washington Airports Task Force (WATF) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) advocacy organization founded in 1982 and headquartered at 45005 Aviation Drive, Suite 130, Dulles, Virginia. Its mission is to promote the expansion and enhancement of aviation services in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the National Capital Region through a non-partisan, data-driven approach. WATF's primary focus areas are supporting sustainable growth at Washington Dulles International Airport, sustaining constrained services at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and fostering robust inter-Virginia airport air service. The organization is governed by a 60-member Board of Directors elected annually from regional business leadership, with a small professional staff of fewer than ten overseeing operations, community development, industry affairs, and marketing.

WATF operates four primary programs: (1) administration of Foreign Trade Zone #137, which provides member companies with customs duty deferral, reduction, or elimination; (2) the Committee for Dulles Community Outreach (CFDCO) Dulles Airport Scholarship Program, which since 2012 has awarded 313 scholarships totaling $475,000 to graduating high school seniors connected to the Dulles Airport community; (3) the Annual Dulles 5K/10K Runway Race, a fundraising event limited to 2,500 participants and benefiting Special Olympics of Virginia, CFDCO, and WATF; and (4) the Williams Trophy Award, established in 1996 to honor leadership in aviation and space. The organization is led by President and CEO Keith W. Meurlin (a retired Major General and former Dulles Airport Manager at MWAA), VP/COO Mark Treadaway (joined 2022), and Director of Administration, Marketing, and Industry Affairs Lisa Merhaut (joined 2023).

WATF's revenue is derived from four streams: corporate sponsorships (including event tiers ranging from Bronze at $2,000 to Gold at $5,000), public sector grants from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, and the Town of Herndon, in-kind support from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), and compensation for administrative services including FTZ #137 administration. The organization does not have a technology product, does not generate revenue from AI/ML capabilities, and does not operate outside Virginia and the National Capital Region.

Name

Washington Airports Task Force

Legal name

Washington Airports Task Force

Website

https://washingtonairports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Washington Airports Task Force is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1982 that advocates for aviation expansion in Virginia and the National Capital Region. It administers Foreign Trade Zone #137, runs a scholarship program, and convenes regional leaders through events and a 60-member board.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dulles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: WATF receives private sector revenue through corporate sponsorships. The organization has various sponsorship tiers for events like the Dulles 5K/10K Race.
2. Public Sector Grants: WATF receives public sector grants from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the counties of Fairfax and Loudoun, and the Town of Herndon.
3. In-Kind Support: WATF benefits from in-kind support from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
4. Administrative Services: WATF receives compensation for administrative services rendered in support of selected aviation-related functions and activities. WATF also administers Foreign Trade Zone #137.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WATF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) advocacy organization that promotes the expansion and enhancement of aviation services in Virginia and the National Capital Region. It delivers value through aviation advocacy, administration of Foreign Trade Zone #137 (offering Customs duty savings to businesses), the CFDCO Dulles Airport Scholarship Program, the Annual Dulles 5K/10K Runway Race fundraiser, and the Williams Trophy Award presented at the Annual General Meeting. Funding is sourced from corporate sponsorships, public-sector grants, and compensation for administrative services.

Product overview

WATF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) advocacy organization (not a technology company) that promotes aviation expansion and economic development for Virginia and the National Capital Region. The organization operates four primary programs: (1) Foreign Trade Zone #137 Administration providing customs duty benefits to businesses; (2) The CFDCO Dulles Airport Scholarship Program awarding college scholarships to students connected to Dulles Airport; (3) The Annual Dulles 5K/10K Runway Race fundraising event held on the actual Dulles runway; and (4) The Williams Trophy Award presented at the Annual General Meeting to honor aviation excellence. These programs collectively support the organization's mission of bolstering aviation services, job creation, and regional economic growth since 1982.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foreign Trade Zone #137 Administration WATF-administered Foreign Trade Zone #137 in Northern Virginia provides a competitive economic advantage to companies through deferral, reduction, or elimination of U.S. Customs duties on merchandise admitted into the zone. The service is targeted at companies engaged in international trade operating in or relocating to the catchment area.
• CFDCO Dulles Airport Scholarship Program A scholarship program providing financial assistance to graduating high school seniors pursuing aviation, aerospace, and related careers who work or volunteer at Dulles Airport, or have parents who do. Scholarship tiers include Academic Scholarships ($2,000), Academic/Community Service Scholarships ($2,500), and the Carol Welti Scholarship ($3,000). Applications are submitted through an online portal with two-factor authentication.
• Annual Dulles 5K/10K Runway Race A paid annual fundraising event held at Washington Dulles International Airport where participants run or walk on an actual airport runway. The event is open to the public with capacity capped at 2,500 participants across 5K and 10K distances, and benefits Special Olympics of Virginia, the Committee for Dulles Community Outreach, and WATF.
• Williams Trophy Award An annual recognition award honoring individuals whose leadership, vision, and dedication in aviation or space have enriched quality of life on Earth. Presented each year at WATF's Annual General Meeting to recognize achievements in the aviation and space community.
• Annual General Meeting A paid annual gathering of regional leaders, aviation stakeholders, and community partners that serves as the official forum for electing Board members and presenting the Williams Trophy Award. Non-member guests attend for a $75 fee.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.

• Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey strategic partner in aviation advocacy; MWAA provides in-kind support to WATF; WATF advocates for MWAA initiatives at Dulles and Reagan National airports; WATF works closely with MWAA on Silver Line Metro extension advocacy and airport expansion
• Virginia Department of AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic sector funding partner providing grants to WATF; WATF supports Virginia Department of Aviation initiatives to connect Dulles to Virginia's airports
• Fairfax County Economic Development AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic sector funding partner providing grants; strong partnerships for coordinated economic development strategies leveraging aviation infrastructure
• Loudoun County Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic sector funding partner providing grants; partnership on Silver Line Metrorail and regional transportation improvements
• Prince William County Department of Economic DevelopmentkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic sector funding partner; economic development partnership for regional aviation infrastructure growth
• Town of HerndonkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic sector funding partner; collaborated on Silver Line Metrorail extension to Dulles
• Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on global air freight capacity study for Dulles Airport; VEDP engaged FTI consultants to explore cargo market opportunities; WATF is a funding partner on the study
• Committee for Dulles (CFD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership formed the Committee for Dulles Community Outreach (CFDCO) in 2012 to support Dulles Airport community through scholarships and grants
• Northern Virginia Chamber of CommercekeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWATF board representation; collaborative advocacy for regional business interests
• Northern Virginia Transportation AlliancekeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWATF board representation; advocacy for transportation infrastructure improvements including American Legion Bridge
• United AirlineskeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKey airline partner at Dulles; Premier sponsor of Dulles 5K/10K Race; involved in expansion planning discussions
• Atlantic AviationsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFBO operator partner at Dulles; Gold sponsor of Dulles 5K/10K Race
• Signature Flight SupportsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFBO operator partner at Dulles; Gold sponsor of Dulles 5K/10K Race
• Special Olympics of VirginiasupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBeneficiary of Dulles 5K/10K Race proceeds; community partnership
• Smithsonian National Air and Space MuseumkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerWATF championed creation of Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles (opened 2003); Dulles 5K/10K starts at the museum; hosted reception at Udvar-Hazy for WATF event
• Dulles Chamber of CommercesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommittee membership for regional business engagement
• Greater Reston Chamber of CommercesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommittee membership for regional business engagement
• Loudoun Chamber of CommercesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommittee membership for regional business engagement
• Visit LoudounsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTourism partnership for regional promotion
• Visit FairfaxsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTourism partnership for regional promotion

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Committee for Dulles: Closely aligned advocacy partner that co-runs the CFDCO scholarship program with WATF. Operates in the same Northern Virginia aviation-advocacy niche with overlapping board networks and mission.
• Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance: Regional transportation advocacy coalition with overlapping board representation. WATF's Silver Line and American Legion Bridge advocacy runs directly alongside NVTA's regional mobility agenda.

Broad incumbents

• Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA): Large industry trade association representing North American airports on policy, advocacy, and security. Comparable function to WATF but at the continent-wide scale rather than a single regional airport system.
• American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE): National professional association for airport executives and policymakers. Shares WATF's aviation policy and advocacy mission but operates across all US airports rather than focusing on a single regional system.

Regional players

• Virginia Department of Aviation: State aviation agency that provides grant funding to WATF and supports Virginia's air service system. Operates the public-sector counterpart function to WATF's private advocacy mission.
• Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce: Regional business advocacy organization where WATF holds board representation. Comparable in mission as a business-led advocacy entity focused on Northern Virginia economic competitiveness.
• Greater Washington Board of Trade: Regional business leadership council advocating for economic competitiveness across the National Capital region. Overlaps with WATF on transportation, infrastructure, and economic-development advocacy.

Emerging players

• Regional Airline Association (RAA): Trade association for North American regional airlines and operators, with policy interests in airport access, slots, and perimeters. Adjacent to WATF's aviation advocacy focus on Dulles air service.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-airports-task-force

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washington Airports Task Force