Michael "Mike" O’Leary, a 50-year aviation veteran who had become the Aircraft Electronics Association’s (AEA) longest-serving chairman, died on February 14 from Covid-19 complications. He was 69. A celebration of life event is tentatively scheduled for September 12 in Phoenix.

O’Leary, who had retired from Elliott Aviation in 2020, was born and raised on a farm in northwest Iowa. After graduating from Emmetsburg High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 and served two tours of duty in Vietnam as a torpedo man on the USS Towers destroyer, according to AEA.

After leaving the military, he earned his pilot’s license and A&P mechanic license, beginning his career as an avionics installer. That launched a career that continued through his retirement and involved positions at a number of avionics and electronics companies.

During that time, he was active with AEA, serving on the board of directors from 1996 to 2009 and chairman from 2002 to 2009, the longest tenure in the organization’s history. He also had served as secretary and vice chairman for the association.

“He made countless special friends as his aviation career took him to many different cities—living and traveling extensively across the U.S.,” AEA said. “O’Leary was the consummate professional and was truly an expert in his field and a perfectionist when it came to his work.”