The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) has selected Mike Adamson to become president and CEO beginning March 25, 2019. Paula Derks has served as president and chief executive officer of AEA since 1996 and will be succeeded by Adamson upon her retirement. Adamson will operate out of AEA’s location in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
He has held various positions with AEA since joining as director of training and education in 1999. Since then, Adamson has served as executive director of the AEA educational foundation, vice president of member programs and education, and contributed largely to the establishment of AEA’s Dan Derby Center for Professional Development. "Mike has widely been recognized and highly respected for the valuable contributions he has made to the AEA and the avionics industry for more than two decades," said AEA board chairman David Loso. "As an international trade association veteran, he has worked to establish the AEA as a market leader in technical training and professional development.”
Adamson is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and has served as an executive officer for the ASTM International Committee F46 on aerospace personnel and as a member of the ASTM Committee F38 on unmanned aircraft systems. He was also on the board that founded the National Center for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies. The announcement of his most recent appointment at AEA will occur during the 62nd annual AEA international convention and trade show.
“I'm humbled and thankful for the opportunity to lead the association as president and CEO. It is an honor to work alongside our board of directors and talented staff already in place, and I look forward to advocating for our member companies and helping them grow their businesses,” said Adamson. “I am committed to enhancing the profitability of our members through a broad range of programs and services and to further our position as aviation's technology experts. The AEA will continue to be out front on the important issues affecting our membership and provide leadership on the organizational and philosophical changes taking place within the international regulatory authorities."
