About Us
The Airport Legislative Alliance is headed by Todd Hauptli, President, AAAE GOV. Below is a listing of the ALA staff, with a short biography and each individual's email address. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.
Todd Hauptli, President, AAAE GOV
Todd Hauptli is Senior Executive Vice President of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and its Airport Legislative Alliance. He is responsible for managing the organizations’ interactions with the Congress and the executive branch agencies.
Recognized as a leading transportation advocate in Washington DC, he has helped guide more than $50 billion in infrastructure investments to airports and has been involved in transportation policy for nearly two decades. He has been profiled in such publications as National Journal, Legal Times, Influence, Washington Times, and The Hill.
Prior to joining AAAE in 1991, Hauptli served as a Congressional Relations Officer handling aviation issues at the Department of Transportation.
Before his service at the Department of Transportation, Hauptli served on the White House staff of President Ronald Reagan as Associate Director of Cabinet Affairs. He also worked at the Department of Commerce, first in the Congressional Affairs office, then directly for the Secretary of Commerce.
He began his career on Capitol Hill working on the staff of the House Republican Research Committee.
Hauptli is married with three sons. He and his family reside in McLean, Virginia.
Joel Bacon, Vice President
Bacon brings a decade of experience in congressional affairs to his current role as Staff Vice President of the Airport Legislative Alliance. As part of the joint department, Bacon focuses on airline competition, safety, and security issues, to name a few.
Bacon began his professional career in the office of Kansas Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum where he held positions as legislative assistant and press secretary. He also worked for the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee during Kassebaum's term as Chairman of that Committee.
In addition to his work in the Senate, Bacon has served as district director to Kansas Congressman Jerry Moran and as senior manager of legislative affairs for the National Business Aviation Association. He joined the AAAE staff in January 2000.
Brad Van Dam, Vice President
In his role in the department, Van Dam works on airline competition, environmental and technology issues, just to name a few. Prior to joining AAAE in April, Van Dam was a longtime legislative assistant for Senate Democratic Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-SD). Originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Van Dam began working for Senator Daschle in 1989 and covered transportation, defense, foreign affairs, arms control, science and technology, and veterans issues.
Gwen Papineau, Director, Legislative and Regulatory Communication
Papineau is Director of Legislative and Regulatory Communication for the Airport Legislative Alliance. Papineau is involved in literally all aspects of the ALA effort including covering House and Senate hearings, media relations, fundraising, research, grassroots communication, publications, meeting planning and issue coverage. Prior to joining AAAE in 2004 Papineau’s political and communications skills were honed in the Senate Judiciary Committee and at the Vermont Governor’s Commission on Women.
