Regional Airlines Association (RAA) President Deborah McElroy will become Senior Vice President Government Affairs for Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) effective December 18. She will oversee the management of ACI-NA's government affairs department and manage the efforts of a lobbying firm on behalf of ACI-NA. She will also be involved in policy and message development.

She joined RAA in 1987 from the U.S. International Trade Commission where she was senior aerospace industry analyst. She was also an international economist for the Department of Labor.

RAA officers kicked off its search for a successor with a conference call last Friday to launch the search process, Chair Jeff Pinneo told members. A briefing will come during the upcoming RAA meeting in Washington. He is looking for both comments from members as well as recommendations on potential candidates. The search committee will be evaluating both internal and external candidates in cooperation with the RAA's management organization Smith Bucklin.

"Over these nearly two decades, Debby has earned the respect of all her constituents in Washington and throughout the industry, becoming nearly synonymous with our segment and causes in the process." said Pinneo. "Because of this, it's no surprise at all that she'd attract the attention of ACI or other such groups, with offers like the one she's accepted being a direct reflection of the great work she's done on our behalf and a tremendous, well-deserved compliment to her and her professional capability."

McElroy is in her 20th year as president of the association and indicated the move is well timed both personally and professionally and presents an opportunity for new challenges and opportunities.

"This was a very difficult decision," she told Regional Aviation News. "The change works well for me and my family at this stage in my life. My tenure at RAA has been incredibly rewarding. We have a great staff, board, members and associate members who have been very supportive throughout the years."

In looking back on her career at RAA, McElroy cited three major initiatives of which she is most proud, including transitioning to a single-level of safety, the challenges of reauthorizations and enhancing industry understanding.

"The transition to Part 121 for aircraft under 10 to 30 seats was a difficult issue and very costly for our members," she said. "But our board recognized that the industry's commitment to safety was best served by supporting that initiative. While it remains controversial with members, the industry should be commended for their work which has paid dividends over the years."

She also cited the fact that RAA now has a well-earned and respected place at the table in participating in the reauthorization process, and other policy measures, to ensure that regional airline interests are considered. "While we have not taken a position on FAA reauthorization simply because we don't know what the FAA's plan is, we must ensure that any proposal does not disproportionately disadvantage regionals or small community air service," she said. "One of the reasons I chose to make the change now is because I didn't want to do anything in the middle of that process. That would have been unfair to an organization that has been very good to me."

McElroy said that her proudest achievement has been in building on the work of her predecessors in educating people about the quality of regional airlines and the commitment to safety. "I don't want to diminish the recent accidents, but the coverage and reaction to those accidents did not result in the hysteria we experienced in previous times," she said, citing the organization's educational work with policy makers and media. "Those were difficult times but if you analyzed the data, this industry had an excellent safety record that as only improved since then. I think the credit it entirely due to the work the industry had done to change the perception of itself as well as in taking on the Part 121 transition. I am most proud there is a better understanding of the industry."