GAMA Welcomes Christine DeJong as Director of Global Innovation and Policy

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has announced that Christine DeJong has joined the association as its Director of Global Innovation and Policy.

Christine brings over 13 years of experience in standards and business development at ASTM International where she managed the aviation and aerospace portfolio, which included general aviation aircraft, aircraft systems and unmanned aircraft systems. Her responsibilities included monitoring industry trends, exploring and launching new standards activities and related programs, establishing partnerships, and providing guidance regarding how standards can solve common challenges to bringing new products to market and support workforce development. Her connectivity to innovation initiatives at ASTM included the launch of ASTM’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence and the Autonomy in Aviation cross-sector committee.

 “Christine’s vast experience at ASTM International will be of immense value to GAMA member companies as our scope of work expands into areas such as electric and hybrid propulsion, increased automation and supersonic,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “We look forward to utilizing her extensive expertise in global aviation standards and development to help the GAMA membership bring new innovations to market more rapidly, and ensuring those standards keep pace with rapidly evolving and transformative technology.”

A native of New Jersey, Christine holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Law and Justice and Spanish from Rowan University and a master’s certificate in Translation from La Salle University. Christine is training to attain her private pilot’s license.

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.