Airlines for America Further Strengthens Global Advocacy Team

Top House Staffer Shelley Rubino Joins Leading Airline Trade Organization

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today announced that it named Shelley Rubino, top aide to Rep. John Larson (D-CT), to the role of Vice President, Global Government Affairs, effective April 2.

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Rubino comes to A4A after nearly four years on Capitol Hill where she most recently served as chief of staff to Rep. Larson, who is chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. Rubino has extensive policy, legislative and management experience, having served as a liaison between Larson and House Leadership, members of Congress and the administration.

"Shelley is well regarded on both sides of the aisle and will be a strong addition to our growing government affairs team," said A4A President and CEO Nicholas Calio. "The airline industry is critical to creating jobs, driving economic activity and connecting the United States to the global economy, and we are committed to building a world-class trade association and advocacy team – bolstered with the addition of Shelley – that can help ensure this industry has the right infrastructure and tax and regulatory environment to be globally competitive."

"Shelley Rubino is the consummate professional. She exhibits all the intellect, grace and hands-on relationship building required of a Chief of Staff. She is a role model to young women, extraordinarily dedicated and loyal. Airlines for America could not have chosen better," Larson said. "While we will miss her vivacious personality and skill, she brings added value to any endeavor she associates with."

"I have worked with Shelley and Chairman Larson's office for the past few years and I have always found her to be hard working, capable and bipartisan in her approach to issues," said Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA), a leading member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. "I think Shelley will be a tremendous addition to the A4A team that Nick Calio is building."

Prior to working on the Hill, Rubino served as Director of Government Law and Strategies at Brown, Rudnick, Berlack, Israels, LLP, of Hartford, Conn. She also served as a top aide to Connecticut House Speaker Thomas Ritter.

"I am pleased to join A4A and the airline industry at such a critical time," Rubino said. "I look forward to working with the entire A4A team to advance the goals of the airline industry."

Rubino received her bachelor's degree in communications from Eastern Connecticut University. She has served as Vice Chairman of the Connecticut Judicial Selection Commission and on the Board of the Connecticut Riverfront Recapture. She is involved in numerous civic and charitable organizations.

About A4A
Annually, commercial aviation helps drive more than $1 trillion in U.S. economic activity and more than 10 million U.S. jobs. A4A airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For more information about the airline industry, visit www.airlines.org and follow us on Twitter @airlinesdotorg.

SOURCE Airlines for America