Craig Spence, AOPA vice president of operations and international affairs, was named the secretary general of the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA) on Oct. 13. He was named acting secretary general in May.
In his current job, Spence leads advocacy efforts on safety and security; regulatory and operational issues affecting pilots, aircraft, airspace, air traffic control; and future modernization issues. He joined AOPA in June 2008 as the organization’s first vice president of the newly created aviation security department, located within the government affairs division.
Spence is a commercial pilot, with instrument and multiengine ratings, and more than 2,500 hours of military flying. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business management, transportation, and logistics from the University of Maryland and a Masters of Business Administration from TUI University. He is also a graduate of the Air Force Air Command and Staff College, and the Air War College.
“With his extensive experience on advocacy issues affecting general aviation in the United States, Spence is the ideal candidate to continue the work of IAOPA to represent general aviation interests around the globe before international organizations like ICAO, the European Aviation Safety Agency, Eurocontrol, and Joint Aviation Authorities,” said AOPA President Craig Fuller.
IAOPA represents 470,000 general aviation and aerial work pilots in 70 countries.
