Pelton worked for over three decades in the aviation industry at Douglas Aircraft, at Dornier Aircraft, as the CEO of Cessna, and as CEO of Experimental Aircraft Association. He received numerous awards for his contributions to the aviation industry, including the Lindbergh Award, the Elrey Jeppesen Leadership Award in General Aviation, the Aviation Week Laurel for Business and General Aviation, and the Freedom Flight Award. Pelton served on the Federal Aviation Administration’s Management Advisory Committee for three years beginning in 2011 and on the 2010 Future of Aviation Advisory Committee.