The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) board of directors has elected Josh Krotec to serve as its 2023 president. Current president Terrell Siegfried, assistant general counsel and corporate secretary of NORDAM, will remain on the board.

Krotec is senior vice president of Connecticut-headquartered component repair and overhaul, PMA parts manufacturing and rotables management company First Aviation Services, and has been engaged in the association's volunteer leadership for several years. He served as government affairs chairman before his election to the board in 2019.

ARSA's board represents a broad range of international maintenance interests, ensuring attention is given to the entire aviation safety life cycle. Krotec represents the small business segment of the industry, namely most association members, and his professional network touches all elements of aviation. Since his initial election he has helped recruit five of the board's nine elected directors.

“Leaders must be proactive in dealing with governments,” Krotec says. “Everyone encounters inconsistencies and contradictions among rules, guidance and personal interpretation. Easing the burden of these inevitabilities demands actively engaging at every possible level to make government oversight efficient and effective. ARSA enhances our individual and collective actions.”

Krotec will use his personal experience engaging the FAA, the Departments of Defense and Commerce and other US and international government agencies, to build professional relationships with regulators and policymakers. But his engagement is not limited to ARSA; he is also a member of the US Department of Commerce International Trade Advisory Committee and a board member for the Modification and Replacement Parts Association (MARPA). He also serves in executive roles for First Aviation's subsidiary businesses: Aerospace Turbine Rotables, Aviation Blade Services, Evolution Aerospace, Heliblade International and Piedmont Propulsion Systems.

“Josh is resolute,” says ARSA executive director Sarah MacLeod. “He moves himself, his business and the industry steadily in the right direction. He makes certain there is a return on investment by engaging the ARSA team for the industry while ensuring business interests are considered. For the next year, ARSA and Josh will work to leverage those investments for the entire industry's benefit.”

Fortner Engineering & Manufacturing vice president of engineering Gary Fortner was elected for the third time to serve as ARSA vice president. Bob Mabe, director of regulatory compliance for HAECO Americas, joins the executive committee as association treasurer. Columbia Helicopters vice president of aircraft solutions Rob Roedts and AeroKool Aviation president and chief executive officer Jon Silva were elected to initial one year terms.