Fred Downey

Fred Downey joined the Aerospace Industries Association in June of 2008. Working with AIA’s Defense Council, he is responsible for monitoring and analyzing national security issues that affect the U.S. aerospace industry’s ability to support the Defense Department and to compete and cooperate in the national and global marketplace, and he coordinates the activities of the association’s National Security and Technical Operations Councils and their associated committees and working groups to develop industry consensus and responses to these issues.

Downey comes to AIA from the office of Sen. Joe Lieberman, where he served as senior counselor and legislative aide for defense and foreign affairs. Downey has been Lieberman’s point person on these issues for 12 years. Downey was the senator’s designated representative to the Senate Armed Services Committee and staffed him in his role as chair of the Airland Subcommittee. He worked directly on Army and Air Force policy and budget issues and the annual defense authorization bill, among many other assignments.

Prior to joining Lieberman’s office, Downey was in the private sector, working on defense program analytical services for TASC Inc. That came after a 24-year career in the U.S. Army, including the Pentagon postings of assistant to the Director of Net Assessments and Strategy Team Chief for the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate. Downey’s Army career included a variety of infantry and armor troop and staff positions in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Vietnam.

He was graduated with honors from the University of Kansas with a Master of Political Science, attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and received a Bachelor of Arts, Distinguished Military Graduate, from the Virginia Military Institute.

Mr. Downey has served on the US Department of State Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy, is currently Vice Chair of the Board of Visitors of the US Army War College, and serves on the Board of Advisors of the International Studies Department of the Virginia Military Institute.