The Air Care Alliance (ACA), a non-profit organization that represents a nationwide network of volunteer pilot groups, has named Barbara Sica as Executive Director and JJ Suarez as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
“The Air Care Alliance team is composed of dedicated leaders committed to fostering and advancing charitable aviation,” said Mark Hanson, ACA President. “Both JJ and Barbara bring a wealth of experience and a shared enthusiasm for public benefit flying that will not only further our mission, but also expand our ability to support current members, welcome new ones, and raise broader awareness of the value of general aviation and its impact on the communities where we live, work, and fly.”
As ACA’s new Executive Director, Sica brings more than 35 years of executive leadership in business management and marketing, including 16 years in the non-profit public benefit flying sector.
Prior to her work in the nonprofit sector, she served as vice president of marketing, corporate communications, and investor relations for a publicly traded international technology management firm. She also held senior marketing roles across the healthcare, publishing, and retail industries.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to support ACA during this time of transition and to collaborate with the board, members, volunteer pilots, and partners to advance our organization’s vital work in public benefit flying,” she said. “I remain deeply committed to elevating the often-overlooked value of volunteer pilots and the organizations that support them, harnessing the power of aviation to make a meaningful difference in our communities.”
Prior to being named Chairman of the Board, Suarez served on the ACA Board of Directors for three years. His career spans a blend of academic, entrepreneurial, corporate, industry, and community leadership roles.
In 1996, he founded CSA Group, an architectural, engineering, and construction management firm that has grown to employ more than 500 professionals across multiple locations in the United States, the Caribbean, and Central America.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico and went on to Cornell University, where he completed both a Master of Science in Civil Engineering and a Ph.D. in Structural Engineering.
A passionate advocate for aviation, he also serves as Chairman of the TBM Owners and Pilots Association (TBMOPA) Board. He is also an active volunteer pilot, flying missions for LifeLine Pilots, Angel Flight East, Angel Flight Soars, Angel Flights Central, and SkyHope, averaging 30 angel flights a year.
ACA represents more than 50 volunteer pilot organizations across the nation, which have more than 19,500 volunteer pilots.
For more information: AirCareAlliance.org
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