WASHINGTON — In an era defined by volatile geopolitical landscapes, shifting trade policies, and escalating supply chain disruptions, the role of the freight forwarder has transitioned from a behind-the-scenes operational necessity to a linchpin of global economic stability and national security. Stepping into this high-stakes environment is Steve Smith, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Airforwarders Association (AfA).
Taking over the leadership reins from Brandon Fried—who spent 21 transformative years building the AfA into the preeminent voice for more than 225 member companies—Smith assumes control with a distinct perspective forged in the crucible of global aviation, commercial aerospace, and international humanitarian crisis response. As the AfA looks toward the future, Smith has outlined a strategic roadmap anchored by three core priorities designed to safeguard the integrity of domestic and international air cargo networks.
Main Facts: A New Era of Leadership for Global Logistics
The leadership transition at the AfA marks a pivotal moment for the United States and international air cargo sectors. Smith officially stepped into the role following a transition period aided by Fried, whose retirement was announced earlier in the year.
Smith arrives at the AfA following a distinguished career spanning more than 25 years. His professional background bridges high-stakes commercial aerospace manufacturing with large-scale humanitarian logistics. Most notably, Smith spent 13 years at the helm of Airlink, a rapid-response humanitarian organization that leverages aviation and logistics to deliver emergency aid to populations affected by natural disasters, armed conflicts, and public health emergencies.
Under Smith’s leadership at Airlink, a coalition of more than 50 airlines and logistics enterprises worked in tandem with 250 humanitarian organizations. This network responded to upwards of 200 crises across 100 countries, executing critical missions during unprecedented global emergencies, including the West African Ebola outbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the catastrophic 2023 earthquake in Turkey.
Before his tenure at Airlink, Smith built a formidable reputation in commercial aviation at Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace. There, he spearheaded high-value airline campaigns, most notably orchestrating a monumental $4 billion-plus engine and services agreement—the largest single transaction of its kind in the company’s history.
Most recently, in 2025, Smith served as a subject matter expert to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), advising the alliance on public-private cooperation in crisis response and resilience planning. This cross-sectoral experience forms the bedrock of his philosophy for the AfA: that modern logistics is no longer merely a commercial function, but a fundamental pillar of critical infrastructure and national security.
Chronology: From Aerospace Giants to Humanitarian Relief and Association Leadership
To understand Steve Smith’s strategic vision for the AfA, it is necessary to examine the chronological progression of his career, which reflects the evolving importance of air cargo in an increasingly interconnected and fragile world.
- The Rolls-Royce Era (Late 1990s – Early 2010s): Smith spent over a decade within the upper echelons of commercial aerospace. Working with Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace, he navigated complex multi-billion-dollar negotiations, developing an intricate understanding of airline economics, fleet management, and global manufacturing supply chains. This period instilled a deep appreciation for the commercial pressures facing operators and the absolute necessity of maintaining operational uptime.
- The Airlink Years (2012 – 2025): Transitioning from commercial aviation to the non-profit sector, Smith took over Airlink. Over 13 years, he transformed the organization into a vital bridge between the aviation industry and humanitarian NGOs. When established trade and transport routes collapsed due to natural disasters or geopolitical conflicts, Smith’s teams engineered alternative routings, secured regulatory exemptions, and moved life-saving cargo to cut-off populations. This period cemented his view that air cargo’s true value lies in its agility and capacity to solve systemic bottlenecks under extreme duress.
- NATO Crisis Response Advisory (2025): Serving as a subject matter expert for NATO, Smith engaged directly with defense and civil preparedness planners. He witnessed firsthand a profound paradigm shift: Western governments and military alliances now view civilian supply chains and logistics networks as vital components of national defense and critical infrastructure.
- Transition to the Airforwarders Association (September 2025 – Present): Following a 21-year tenure characterized by steady growth and robust advocacy under Brandon Fried, the AfA named Smith as its new CEO. Following Fried’s retirement announcement in February and subsequent handover period, Smith officially assumed executive responsibilities, charged with steering the association through a complex modern era of international trade and regulatory scrutiny.
Supporting Data: The Strains on Modern Air Cargo and the Case for Critical Infrastructure
The urgency of Smith’s agenda is underscored by a convergence of macroeconomic pressures, infrastructure deficits, and regulatory hurdles currently facing the air cargo industry.
NATO and National Resilience Commitments
At the landmark NATO summit in The Hague, allied nations formally committed up to 1.5% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to protecting critical infrastructure and strengthening civil preparedness. Within NATO’s baseline requirements for national resilience, resilient civil transport systems—predominantly reliant on commercial aviation and freight forwarding networks—are categorized as matters of supreme national security. Because a significant portion of this capacity is commercial and coordinated by forwarders, the health of the forwarding industry directly impacts national defense readiness.
Infrastructure and Regulatory Strain
Despite its critical role, the commercial air cargo sector is grappling with intense systemic stress:
- Infrastructure Deficits: A formal confirmation by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) validated long-standing industry complaints regarding aging cargo facilities, inadequate truck access at major airports, and a persistent lack of comprehensive federal data tracking air cargo movements.
- Cargo Theft Epidemic: Cargo theft has evolved from opportunistic pilferage into sophisticated, highly organized criminal operations, costing logistics providers and businesses hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Addressing this legislative gap, the US House of Representatives passed comprehensive cargo theft legislation by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 348–60 in May, setting the stage for ongoing advocacy in the Senate.
- Macroeconomic and Geopolitical Pressures: Ongoing armed conflicts continue to sever primary trade lanes, while unpredictable tariff policies, fluctuating fuel costs, border congestion, and regulatory compliance burdens squeeze operational margins for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) alike.
Official Responses and Strategic Vision: The AfA’s Three Priorities
In stepping into his new role, Smith has made it clear that the AfA will aggressively advocate for its members—ranging from boutique, family-owned forwarders to massive multinational logistics integrators—by focusing on three foundational pillars.
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| THE AfA's THREE STRATEGIC PILLARS |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| 1. PREDICTABILITY |
| - Mitigate sudden tariff and regulatory shocks |
| - Engage policymakers before rules take effect |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| 2. THE WHOLE CARGO JOURNEY |
| - Modernize aging airport facilities and truck access |
| - Push federal cargo theft legislation through the Senate |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| 3. INTERNATIONAL REACH |
| - Project US forwarder influence into global bodies |
| - Align customs and security standards worldwide |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+1. Predictability in Regulations and Tariffs
"Forwarders adapt for a living, but businesses still need enough certainty to plan capacity, invest, and price services," Smith stated, emphasizing the first priority. Frequent, uncoordinated alterations to customs rules, security mandates, or tariff structures send shockwaves through supply chains, artificially inflating transit times and operational costs.
The AfA’s mandate under Smith is to insert the real-world operational experience of its members into regulatory dialogue long before policies are codified. By fostering early collaboration between government agencies and logistics providers, the association aims to craft mandates that effectively secure cargo without strangling commercial mobility.
2. Securing the Whole Cargo Journey
Speed is the defining competitive advantage of airfreight; however, that advantage is routinely negated once cargo touches the ground. Outdated airport infrastructure, chronic bottlenecks at landside truck docks, and inadequate security protocols create massive vulnerabilities.
"Last year the US Government Accountability Office confirmed what our members see every day: ageing cargo facilities, poor truck access and limited federal data on air cargo," Smith noted. The AfA is actively working to translate these governmental findings into targeted infrastructure investments, ensuring freight forwarders have a seat at the table when capital allocation decisions are made. Furthermore, building on the momentum of the House’s 348–60 vote on cargo theft legislation, the AfA is applying sustained pressure on the US Senate to pass the bill into law.
3. Expanding Influence Beyond Washington
Because air cargo is an inherently global endeavor, domestic US operations are routinely impacted by decisions enacted overseas. Customs protocols, security directives, and commercial terms ratified by foreign governments or international aviation bodies can upend supply chains overnight. Smith has emphasized that US freight forwarders must maintain a formidable, active voice wherever international trade rules are drafted.
Delivering Value Across the Membership Spectrum
Underpinning these three strategic priorities is an unwavering commitment to operational inclusivity. Whether an organization is a five-person regional forwarder or a global multinational, Smith insists that every member must experience a tangible return on their association investment. This includes actionable guidance navigating evolving compliance frameworks, valuable networking opportunities with industry partners, and direct participation in shaping the AfA’s legislative advocacy.
Implications: The Future of Freight Forwarding in Global Trade
The elevation of Steve Smith to the leadership of the Airforwarders Association signals a profound maturation of the logistics sector. For decades, freight forwarding was viewed primarily through a transactional lens—moving boxes from point A to point B at the lowest possible cost. Today, that narrow perspective has been thoroughly dismantled by successive global shocks.
From the chaotic distribution of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic to the delivery of humanitarian relief across active combat zones, and from navigating post-pandemic port congestion to satisfying NATO’s rigorous national resilience benchmarks, the industry has proven its indispensability.
As supply chains remain exposed to geopolitical volatility, climate-related disruptions, and economic protectionism, the freight forwarder sits squarely at the eye of the storm. By championing regulatory predictability, modernizing physical and digital infrastructure, and extending advocacy onto the global stage, Smith aims to ensure that the vital operational experience of forwarders is not merely acknowledged, but actively shapes the future of international trade.
"Every chapter of my career has reinforced the same point: supply chains work best when relationships are strong, infrastructure is fit for purpose, and people with operational experience have a voice in the decisions that affect them," Smith concluded. "That is what freight forwarders bring to global trade every day. My job is to make sure they are heard, in Washington and beyond."
