AfA Executive Director

Brandon Fried was appointed to serve as the Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association in November 2005. Brandon has more than 38 years of experience in the air freight industry. He started his career as a sales representative in Los Angeles. He then moved to Washington, D.C. where he began, owned and operated the Washington office of a global freight forwarder specializing in time definite air cargo transportation.

In 2000, Brandon joined the Airforwarders Association and was elected as Chairperson in 2001, serving for two consecutive terms. In August 2005 he sold his company interest and began consulting air cargo companies on business strategy and management practices until his appointment as Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association.

Brandon is a recognized expert on the air cargo industry and regularly comments for major trade publications such as American Shipper, The Journal of Commerce and Air Cargo World.  He also continues to educate and advocate for forwarders in national publications, including the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald and USA Today.  He has also appeared on National Public Radio, CNN News and C-SPAN’s Washington Journal television shows.

Brandon represents the Association on all security matters and serves on several Federal Advisory Committees. He advocates for the industry in the halls of Congress, the Department of Homeland Security and is the public face of the Airforwarders Association.

A graduate of Syracuse University, Brandon holds a Masters in Business Administration and lives in Chevy Chase, MD, with his wife Kim and two children, Evan and Jordan.  

– The Transportation Security Administration Aviation (TSA) Security Advisory Committee

– The Transportation Security Administration Aviation (TSA) Security Advisory Committee Air Cargo Subcommittee

– The Transportation Security Administration Aviation (TSA) Security Advisory Committee Modern Supply Chain Working Group

– The Transportation Security Administration Aviation (TSA) Security Advisory Known Shipper Working Group

– The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Critical Infrastructure Protection Air Cargo Security Working Group

– The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trade Support Network Section 321 Trade Working Group

– The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) Air Cargo Advisory Committee

– The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness

– The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness Workforce Development Subcommittee 

Industry Representation 

– Chairman of the Cargo Network Services (CNS) an International Air Transport Association (IATA) Company Advisory Board 

– PRBA The Rechargeable Battery Association Lithium Battery Coalition 

Air Cargo News, October 3, 2018 

US Customs Determined to Tighten Scrutiny of e-Commerce Imports, May 10, 2018