The Airforwarders Association has named former Airlink chief executive Steve Smith as executive director to replace Brandon Fried, who will retire in December.
The Airforwarders Association represents logistics companies that manage freight transportation moving on airlines before Congress, federal agencies and industry partners.
Smith founded Airlink in early 2013 and grew it from a one-person startup into a non-profit organization with nearly $20 million in annual revenue that helps connect humanitarian organizations with airlines to ship relief supplies to disaster areas. A logistics matchmaking organization able to help humanitarian groups coordinate crisis response with the aviation sector had previously not existed. He left the organization in September 2025.
During his tenure, Airlink worked with more than 50 airlines and logistics companies, and 250 humanitarian groups across 100 countries, responding to more than 200 disasters and crises, and helping more than 80 million people in need.
Smith directed the organization’s response during major global disruptions, including COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine War, the Ebola outbreak, and the 2023 Türkiye earthquake, and has served as a subject matter expert to NATO on building resilience through public-private cooperation.
Airlink recently coordinated a series of cargo flights from Miami to Venezuela, donated by Amazon Air, to rush medical supplies and other essentials to victims of the massive earthquakes in June.
Prior to Airlink, Smith spent four years as director, civil aerospace at engine manufacturer Rolls Royce where he negotiated large commercial deals.
“Steve brings extensive aviation and logistics experience, a strong understanding of air cargo, and established relationships across all areas of the industry,” said Fried, the outgoing executive director. “He understands the issues affecting the industry and the importance of engaging members, and I am confident he is well-placed to lead the AfA and build on the work we have done over the past two decades.”
Fried, who has led the AfA for 21 years, will assist Smith during a transition period, allowing Smith to settle into his new role as the AfA continues its advocacy work. Among issues the AfA lobbies on are air cargo security, airport infrastructure, and trade facilitation.
He announced in February that he planned to retire at the end of the year.
“The work of the AfA has rarely been more important, with shifting trade policy,
geopolitical disruption, and aging infrastructure adding pressure on supply chains that are already stretched,” said Smith, in a news release announcing his hire. “Forwarders need greater predictability as they navigate these pressures, and investment in the infrastructure that keeps it moving. I look forward to working alongside the AfA team, meeting more members, and ensuring forwarders continue to have an effective voice in Washington and across an industry that sits at the center of billions of dollars in global trade every day.”
Smith serves on the board of InterAction, the largest U.S. alliance of international non-governmental organizations, is a board trustee of the Aero Club of Washington, and serves on the advisory board of GoCrisis, a crisis management company. He is a member of the Air Transport World Hall of Fame.
Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch.
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