Navigating a New Era: Steve Smith Sets Strategic Course for the Airforwarders Association

In an era defined by geopolitical volatility, shifting trade policies, and the constant threat of supply chain disruption, the role of the air freight forwarder has transcended traditional logistics. No longer merely intermediaries, forwarders are now the architects of resilience, bridging the gap between global instability and the essential flow of commerce. As the Airforwarders Association (AfA) transitions its leadership, the organization is positioning itself to be more than a trade body; it aims to be the primary voice for the operational experts who keep the world moving.

Steve Smith, the newly appointed CEO of the AfA, takes the helm at a pivotal moment. Succeeding the legendary Brandon Fried—who spent 21 years building the association into a cornerstone of the logistics industry—Smith brings a unique perspective forged in the crucible of high-stakes aviation and global humanitarian crisis response.

A Legacy of Leadership: The Transition at the AfA

The appointment of Steve Smith was confirmed in September 2026, marking the end of a two-decade era under Brandon Fried. Fried, a titan in the advocacy space for logistics, announced his retirement in February 2026. Since then, a deliberate transition period has been underway, ensuring the AfA’s advocacy initiatives remain uninterrupted as Smith assumes control.

For over 20 years, Fried transformed the AfA from a niche organization into a powerful collective representing over 225 member companies. These range from agile, family-owned regional forwarders to sprawling multinational logistics providers. Smith, who has been working closely with Fried during the handover, acknowledges the gravity of this transition. "Brandon built the association into the voice of the industry," Smith notes. "My goal is to honor that foundation while evolving our strategy to meet the hyper-accelerated pace of today’s supply chain challenges."

The Architect of Resilience: A Career Defined by Logistics

To understand the direction Smith intends to take the AfA, one must look at his professional history. His 25-year career spans the highest echelons of aviation, commercial logistics, and humanitarian aid.

At Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace, Smith led major airline campaigns, including the negotiation of a landmark $4 billion-plus engine and services agreement—the largest in the company’s history. This experience provided him with a deep understanding of the commercial pressures facing the aviation sector.

However, it was his 13-year tenure at the helm of Airlink that arguably shaped his philosophy on logistics. At Airlink, Smith managed the intersection of aviation and humanitarian necessity, facilitating the movement of aid across 100 countries. Under his leadership, the organization coordinated over 50 airlines and logistics companies to respond to 200+ crises, including the Ebola outbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the 2023 Turkey earthquake.

"In humanitarian response, air cargo is a lifeline," Smith says. "But the principle is the same in the commercial sector: when conditions change, this industry finds capacity, develops alternative routings, and solves regulatory gridlock."

Logistics as Critical Infrastructure

The most significant shift Smith has observed in recent years—validated by his 2025 role as a subject matter expert to NATO on public-private cooperation—is the elevation of logistics to the status of "critical infrastructure."

In the wake of recent global conflicts, NATO has moved to classify resilient civil transport as a baseline requirement for national security. At the 2025 summit in The Hague, allied nations committed to dedicating up to 1.5% of their GDP toward the protection of infrastructure and the strengthening of civil preparedness.

"The reality is that national security and supply chain security are now inextricably linked," Smith explains. "Most of the capacity that these government plans depend on is commercial, and most of that capacity is arranged by forwarders. We are no longer just service providers; we are the essential nervous system of the global economy."

Three Strategic Priorities for 2027 and Beyond

As Smith settles into his role, he has outlined three primary pillars that will drive the AfA’s advocacy and operational focus.

1. The Pursuit of Predictability

The first priority is predictability. While forwarders are by nature adaptive, the businesses they serve require stability to make long-term capital investments. Smith argues that constant shifts in tariff structures, customs regulations, and security protocols create a "hidden tax" on global trade.

"Our role is to ensure that the operational experience of our members is integrated into the rulemaking process before these policies take effect," says Smith. "We aren’t asking for a lack of regulation; we are asking for workable, intelligent frameworks that protect cargo without strangling the transit times that businesses depend on."

2. Optimizing the "Whole Cargo Journey"

The speed advantage of airfreight is frequently negated by "last-mile" bottlenecks. Smith points to a 2025 US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, which confirmed long-standing industry complaints: air cargo facilities are aging, truck access at major hubs is deteriorating, and federal data on air cargo remains dangerously sparse.

The AfA is aggressively lobbying to translate these findings into concrete infrastructure investment. A top priority is the passage of cargo theft legislation, which gained momentum in the House with a 348–60 vote in May. Smith is currently pushing the Senate to finalize the bill, which would provide much-needed federal teeth to combat the rising tide of organized cargo theft.

3. Expanding the Global Voice

Finally, Smith recognizes that the AfA must look beyond Washington, D.C. Air cargo is a borderless industry. Decisions made by international bodies regarding customs, security, or commercial terms can impact a U.S.-based forwarder’s bottom line as effectively as a local policy.

"We need a voice wherever the rules are written," Smith asserts. "Whether it is IATA, the WCO, or foreign regulatory agencies, the AfA must be present to represent the interests of its members."

Supporting Data: The Current Landscape

The challenges facing the industry are multifaceted. According to recent industry surveys:

• Congestion Costs: Inefficient terminal access accounts for an estimated 15-20% of operational delays for ground-based logistics providers at major hubs.
• Cargo Theft: Legislative pressure has intensified following a spike in cargo-related incidents near key international airports, with industry losses reaching record highs in 2025.
• Geopolitical Impact: Since 2022, trade lanes have been subjected to an unprecedented level of disruption, requiring forwarders to manage three times the number of route changes compared to the previous decade.

Implications for the Future

The AfA’s shift toward a more proactive, infrastructure-focused advocacy model has been welcomed by its membership. By framing logistics as critical national infrastructure, the association is positioning its members for better access to government grants, security resources, and decision-making tables.

"The core of my career has taught me that supply chains work best when relationships are strong, infrastructure is fit for purpose, and the people with the actual operational experience have a seat at the table," Smith concludes.

As the global economy faces an uncertain future characterized by rapid change, the AfA is banking on this expertise to navigate the headwinds. For the thousands of businesses that rely on the silent, high-speed engine of air cargo, the next few years under Smith’s leadership will be a test of how effectively the industry can turn that operational experience into lasting, systemic influence.