AOPA’s Spence takes over as IAOPA secretary general

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has named Craig Spence as acting Secretary General of the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Association (IAOPA). He takes over for John Sheehan, who retired today.

Spence is currently AOPA’s vice president of operations and international affairs, where he 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. In December 2009, he assumed his current position.

Spence is a commercial pilot, with instrument and multi-engine 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. Spence is the son of long-time General Aviation News columnist Charles Spence.

“As international organizations like ICAO and the European Aviation Safety Agency work on proposals and regulations that have a direct effect on global general aviation, it’s important to have someone like Spence lead IAOPA’s efforts to ensure that national authorities do not restrict access to GA flying,” said AOPA President Craig Fuller.

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