AAAE Chair Mark Gale Announces CEO Employment Agreement Extension

Todd Hauptli

AAAE Chair Mark Gale, A.A.E., announced the signing of a new employment agreement with current AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli, securing his services for another six years, through the end of 2028, the association’s centennial. Hauptli has served as AAAE President and CEO since late 2013 and joined AAAE in 1991. Prior to his time with AAAE, Hauptli worked on Capitol Hill, at the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Transportation and on the White House staff of President Ronald Reagan.

In announcing the agreement, Gale commented, “Todd Hauptli’s three plus decades of leadership, dedication and committed service to AAAE, especially the last nine years as our President and CEO, has had a profoundly positive impact on our association and, frankly, many of us on an individual basis.” He continued, “Todd has led some of the most significant advancements and accomplishments in AAAE’s recent history.”

In commenting on the extension, Hauptli noted that, “Great people aligned around a shared vision and committed to excellence can achieve amazing results, and I am immensely gratified that the elected leaders of the organization have allowed me the opportunity and honor to continue to lead a world-class team in our shared journey delivering service, innovation and results for the membership.”

Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.