AOPA CEO moves to advisory role

Over time, it's become increasingly clear to the AOPA board that the AOPA CEO role should be based full-time in Frederick, Maryland, at AOPA’s headquarters. AOPA's trustees appreciate the substantial time Pleasance has spent traveling from his home in Bend, Oregon, to be present in Frederick and with members across the country. Recognizing this, now is the right time to transition leadership in a way that best supports the organization’s long-term needs.

“Darren has brought energy, perspective, and a deep commitment to serving pilots and protecting the freedom to fly,” said Jim Hauslein, chairman of the AOPA board of trustees. “He has been deeply engaged with our members across the country, taking time to listen to their experiences, understand their challenges, and represent their voices in the work we do every day. We are grateful for his leadership and are pleased he will continue to support AOPA during this transition.”

Pleasance became AOPA's sixth president in January 2025.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we were able to set in motion at AOPA in a relatively short period of time,” Pleasance said. “In addition, I had the opportunity to meet thousands of members across the country, hear their stories, and work on issues that matter to everyday pilots, which has been deeply meaningful. The most special part of AOPA, though, is the staff. The people here care deeply about pilots and the mission, and it’s been a privilege to work alongside them.”

AOPA’s day-to-day operations are now jointly led by Chief Financial Officer Jill Baker and Senior Vice President of Membership Strategy and Growth Katie Pribyl, who will serve as acting co-presidents during this interim period. Both are members of AOPA’s executive leadership team and will lead the organization’s operations, staff, and strategic execution, ensuring continuity of leadership and decision making across the association.

AOPA’s leadership team and staff remain fully focused on the work pilots rely on every day, including advocacy at all levels of government, advancing aviation safety and training, and delivering trusted member programs and services, as the board conducts a search for AOPA’s next leader. The process will be designed to be thoughtful, inclusive, and aligned with the long-term needs of AOPA’s members and the general aviation community.

On February 2, AOPA announced GA visionary Dale Klapmeier, cofounder and former CEO of Cirrus Aircraft, has been appointed to the AOPA board of trustees. Klapmeier’s decades of leadership in advancing aircraft safety, innovation, and pilot engagement add important industry perspective to the board.