ATCA announced it has selected Stephen Creamer as its incoming President & CEO, initiating a three-month leadership transition began on April 1 with Creamer working with current President & CEO Carey Fagan in a smooth continuation of the historic and dynamic organization’s refocusing to shape aviation’s future by fostering education, collaboration, thought leadership, and advocacy.
“I’ve known and worked with Steve for many years, and I am very excited to hand off the leadership of this great organization into his extraordinarily experienced and capable hands,” said Carey who has led ATCA since September 2023. “Steve has my full support, and I will work with him to make sure ATCA keeps moving in a forward direction. He will be a great addition and asset to ATCA to continue the transformation that we’ve started.”
Steve has had a long and distinguished career in both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). He served as Director, Air Navigation Bureau of ICAO from April 2015 through June 2023, completing his tenure there as Senior Advisor to the Secretary-General through September 2023. Prior to joining ICAO, Creamer served over 33 years with the FAA, including senior executive roles in international policy.
Steve started with the FAA as an air traffic controller and rose through the ranks to become a manager and ultimately an expert in international civil aviation issues. He has worked with the representatives of other governments throughout the world to plan routes, negotiate agreements, and coordinate adoption of aviation regulations and policies. He also has an intimate knowledge of domestic air traffic and safety regulatory issues and processes and has overseen the development of national airspace redesign that has saved billions of dollars in fuel costs while maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety. Creamer is also a licensed pilot.
Paul Feldman, Chair of the ATCA Board of Directors, welcomed Steve and thanked Carey for her service and dedication to ATCA’s membership during a time of profound changes in both the organization and the aviation industry.
“Combined with our recent addition of new ATCA Board members, the transition of Carey to Steve reflects our commitment to growing and strengthening our forward-thinking organization as the aviation industry and community experiences significant change but also tremendous opportunity,” Feldman said. “We are privileged to maintain an extremely high bar of excellence in our leadership with the amount of experience and expertise that first Carey and now Steve have brought to this role. I am excited about what lies ahead as we position ATCA as the leading voice of the ATM industry and chief advocate for our National Airspace System.”
