Jim Coon is the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs & Advocacy for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association representing over 340,000 members. Jim has a unique resume with extensive experience working in Congress and in the aviation field. Jim was raised in Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a B.A. in Urban Planning. After college, Jim took an internship working on the Hill, getting his foot in the door. Jim worked as a staff member on the Aviation subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives. He transitioned to serve as the Director of Congressional Affairs for the Air Transport Association before serving as the Director of Congressional Affairs for The Boeing Company.  Jim then returned to work in the House of Representatives, where he served as the Republican Staff Director for the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. In 2013, he became the Executive Vice President to the National Air Transportation Association before joining AOPA in 2014. Jim previously served as an officer in the Army Reserves and the Virginia National Guard. The AOPA was founded in 1939, with the mission to protect an individual’s freedom to fly in the United States. Many members are people who own their own plane and enjoy flying. AOPA has consistently been named a top 50 advocacy organization Help us grow! Leave us a rating and review - it's the best way to bring new listeners to the show.  Have a suggestion, or want to chat with Jim? Email him at: Jim@theLobbyingShow.com Follow The Lobbying Show on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for weekly updates about the show, our guests, and more.