National Aeronautic Association (NAA) president and CEO Jonathan Gaffney is stepping down from his role at the end of September, following a nine-year stint in which he steered the organization back into financial stability. Gaffney joined NAA in 2007 when the organization was at a near default, with operational reserves down to zero.

Within a year, NAA had posted its first profit in nearly a decade after Gaffney had trimmed the staff, moved offices into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, cut costs on its magazine and increased corporate support. The organization, which at 111 years is one of the oldest aeronautical associations in the world, has been profitable every year since. Gaffney also refocused the organization back to its missions of records collections, awards program and support of air sport organizations.

Before joining NAA, he was v-p communications for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

Gaffney, the 31st and the longest-tenured head in NAA’s history, announced his decision to resign from the post during the NAA summer board of directors meeting on June 10. His resignation is effective September 30. NAA is beginning a search for a successor in the next few weeks.

“The entire aviation and aerospace industry are extremely grateful for the tremendous amount of skill, work and time that Jonathan put into NAA over the last nine years,” said NAA chairman Jim Albaugh. “He has restored a very important organization in our industry and he will be missed by all of aerospace.”