New Organizational Structure Mirrors Government Interactions

The AOPA has realigned its Government Affairs division. The organization says the new structure aligns areas of responsibility along natural regulatory lines by mirroring the organizational structure of government agencies.

"AOPA already has dedicated, knowledgeable people advocating on behalf of our members," said Melissa K. Rudinger, senior vice president of government affairs for AOPA. "These changes will allow us to interact more closely with our government counterparts as we work to protect general aviation's interests."

Craig Spence (pictured, below) will head up the newly created Operations and International Affairs Department. As Vice President of Operations and International Affairs, Craig will be responsible for Air Traffic, Modernization, Security and Borders, and International Harmonization. Immediately prior to joining AOPA, Spence, a longtime general aviation pilot and colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve, was the program manager for Geospatial and Aerospace Systems in the DHS's Office of Operations Coordination. In that capacity, he served as the subject-matter expert on all matters pertaining to aviation and geospatial systems, liaison with numerous government and civilian aerospace and geospatial agencies and stakeholders, and was the DHS headquarters representative on various aviation working groups.

Heidi Williams will expand her role as Senior Director, Airspace and Modernization and will be responsible for all policy related to Air Traffic Modernization, Airspace, Air Traffic Control, Aeronautical Information Services, and Aviation Weather Services. Williams has worked for AOPA for 11 years. She started her career as an aviation technical specialist, helping individual members by answering their individual questions. She later moved to the government affairs division, where she first focused on airport issues, and later became manager of AOPA's Air Traffic policy efforts. Her invaluable knowledge of air traffic and experience working in DC make her a natural leader for AOPA's Air Traffic initiatives.

Rounding out Spence's team is Brittney Miculka, who continues as Manager for Security and Borders, leading AOPA's day-to-day efforts in aviation security-related issues.

Robert Hackman is being promoted to Vice President and now heads up a redesigned Regulatory Affairs Department. The Regulatory Affairs department's core responsibilities include Aircraft and Airmen Certification, Aviation Medical Policy, and Environmental Regulatory Policy. Hackman has been with AOPA for 14 years, starting as an aviation technical specialist, later becoming the Manager of Aviation Services for AOPA. For the past six years, he has served in the government affairs division, working on regulatory and certification issues affecting aircraft, pilots, and aviation security.

"By structuring along these organizational lines," Rudinger said, "our staff can continue to develop good operational and technical knowledge of issues and solid working relationships with FAA managers and personnel."

FMI: www.aopa.org