Steve Csonka is an ardent advocate for the aviation industry who seeks pragmatic solutions to the challenges of aviation growth. Built upon strong technical experience that spanned the breadth of the commercial aircraft/engine life-cycle, Steve’s capabilities and initiative have led to his various engagements in business development and long-term, strategic planning for the aviation enterprise over the past fifteen years. Such work has focused on the nexus of future product requirements, technology progression, and industry value propositions, including aspects of policy, advocacy, regulatory affairs, and environmental impact.
Steve’s overall industry engagement led to his current role as Executive Director of CAAFI (the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, www.caafi.org) where he leads this Public-Private Partnership working toward the development and commercialization of sustainable alternative jet fuels (SAJF). He has been in this role since 2012, directing the CAAFI efforts of its 1200+ members and 500+ organizations who share the industry vision of enabling the decoupling of net carbon growth from expected sectoral growth. CAAFI engagement occurs through several work teams and public-private initiatives, and it seeks to be a force multiplier for a wide range of efforts required to achieve significant uptake of low net-carbon SAJF.
Steve is a commercial aviation professional with 35 years of broad, strategic airline and aviation OEM experience (GE Aircraft Engines, American Airlines, GE Aviation, and CAAFI). He holds BS and MS degrees in Aerospace Engineering. He has served in leadership, steering committee, and BOD roles with multiple aviation industry organizations (AIA, ICCAIA, IATA, GAMA, ICAO/CAEP, ATAG, Carbon War Room) in areas of technology and environmental progression. His CAAFI role has also led to appointments to advisory/leadership roles with the USDA/DOE BRDB TAC, the USDA/DOT/DOE/Industry Farm-to-Fly 2.0 initiative, USDA/NIFA/AFRI CAP projects, and study committee work of the National Research Council.