Captain Ron Abel has served in numerous leadership roles at the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) and the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA). Captain Abel is currently responsible for all aspects of the Federation's activities and guides the Federation’s participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which develops and promotes standards and practices for the safety, security, and environmental sustainability of international civil aviation.
Captain Abel recently served as the Federation’s Deputy President and prior to that, as Chairman of the Professional & Government Affairs Committee, developing strategy in air service agreements, globalization, advocacy, negotiations, and dispute resolution. A well-known industry veteran he began his airline career in 1978 and is currently an Airbus 320 captain based in Chicago. He holds a BA from Western Illinois University and an MBA from the University of Iowa.