Harvey W. Cohen has been named senior vice president of development for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's Air Safety Foundation, (ASF). ASF is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to providing aviation education and safety programs for general aviation. In his position at AOPA Air Safety Foundation, Cohen oversees all aspects of fund raising. The foundation is supported solely by contributions from pilots, the aviation industry, and other benefactors.
"Since ASF was founded in 1950, the general aviation accident rate has been steadily declining. Much of the decrease in accidents is directly related to generous donations which enable the educational work of the foundation," Cohen said.
ASF is the leading national organization providing aviation safety research and education for general aviation pilots. That includes the 85 percent of all aviators who fly for personal business or pleasure, rather than commercially. Its safety outreach programs, which include Safety Advisors, live and online seminars, videos, and Seminar-in-a-Box programs, is funded largely by donations from individual pilots and companies interested in promoting general aviation safety. Last year, ASF communicated some form of safety message to more than 270,000 pilots.
Before joining ASF, Cohen was the chief development officer of the Foundation Fighting Blindness in Owings Mills, Md. He also spent many years in various higher education fund-raising positions. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native is a graduate of Duquesne University and also earned a master's degree from Saint Mary's University in Winona, Minn. Cohen lives in Baltimore with his wife Katie and daughter Shira.
