The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has announced the appointment of Stewart D’Leon as Senior Director of Commercial Aviation Safety & Regulatory Affairs. The move is part of AIA’s efforts to strengthen its civil aviation policy team.
“With the next era of flight on the immediate horizon, AIA’s advocacy on behalf of our member companies and the industry’s more than two million employees is more important than ever to enable new, safer technologies to take to the skies,” said Eric Fanning, AIA’s President and CEO. “Stewart’s extensive experience in safety, certification, and operational initiatives will propel AIA’s reputation as a trusted authority in civil aviation and enhance our voice in Washington, DC.”
D’Leon previously worked as Senior Director of Environmental & Technical Operations at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). In that role, he managed environmental, maintenance, and technical portfolios affecting civil aviation operations. He also represented NBAA at the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection through IBAC and chaired the Business Aviation Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition.
D’Leon holds a Master of Aeronautical Science with a focus on Aviation Safety and a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He also possesses Private Pilot and Airframe & Powerplant FAA certificates.
In addition to D’Leon’s appointment, Joseph Sansone has been named Senior Manager for Civil Aviation within AIA's Civil Aviation division. Before joining AIA, Sansone was a Senior Consultant at Guidehouse where he developed strategies for government agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration.
The Aerospace Industries Association plays an active role in shaping U.S. policy on national security, aviation safety, space innovation, and workforce development according to its official website. The organization supports diversity initiatives to improve representation across the sector (source) and promotes international business ethics by leading forums like the International Forum on Business Ethical Conduct since 2010 (source). Founded in 1919 to represent American aerospace and defense interests (source), AIA is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia (source).
The association provides advocacy efforts for manufacturers and suppliers in aerospace and defense (source), offers networking opportunities through councils and committees (source), encourages innovation for economic growth (source), and gives access to over 1,400 industry standards (source). For more than a century it has contributed to advancements from early aviation developments through current space exploration efforts (source).
