Airforwarders Association Names Airlink Founder Steve Smith Executive Director

The Airforwarders Association has appointed Steve Smith, founder and former chief executive of humanitarian logistics nonprofit Airlink, as executive director effective immediately. He succeeds Brandon Fried, who retires in December after 21 years leading the group. Smith founded Airlink in early 2013 and built it from a one-person startup into a nonprofit with nearly $20 million in annual revenue, connecting humanitarian organizations with airlines to ship relief supplies. He left the organization in September 2025. During his tenure, Airlink partnered with more than 50 airlines and logistics companies and 250 humanitarian groups across 100 countries, responding to over 200 disasters. Smith previously spent four years as director of civil aerospace at Rolls-Royce. The AfA lobbies Congress and federal agencies on air cargo security, airport infrastructure and trade facilitation. Fried will assist Smith during a transition period.