Former AOPA and Air Transport Association official Roger Cohen replaced Debby McElroy last month as the president of the Regional Airline Association (RAA). Cohen assumed the post on December 18, three days after McElroy left for a new position at Airports Council International-North America.

A director at SmithBucklin, the company that manages the RAA’s internal affairs, Cohen most recently created and implemented the first-ever government affairs program for Teletrack, a subsidiary of the First Advantage Corporation. He served as the company’s “in house” government affairs specialist, advising senior management and representing Teletrack before Congress, state and local governments, public interest groups and consumer organizations.

Cohen has personally represented organizations and businesses in 35 state capitols, dozens of city halls, numerous federal agencies and in Congress. He spent more than 15 years with the ATA, serving as managing director/staff vice president for state and local government affairs. Before joining the ATA, Cohen ran California-based PR consulting firm Pro Advocates, where he conducted corporate communications, government affairs and association management for clients such as TWA, Avis, First Gray Line and Hakuhodo International. He also spent 10 years at TWA, where he held the titles of regional director for civic affairs and regional manager of corporate communications. While at AOPA, he served as vice president of regional affairs.

“We couldn’t be more enthusiastic to have someone with Roger’s background and experience taking the helm of our association at a time when the regional carriers continue to expand their share of the airline industry market,” said Paul Foley, chairman of the RAA board of directors and president and CEO of Mesaba Airlines parent MAIR Holdings. “Roger is the right person to meet the demands of our industry and to be a proactive force on issues that are important to us in the legislative and regulatory arenas.”