Pete Bunce

In April 2005, Peter (Pete) Bunce became President and CEO of GAMA, which has North American headquarters in Washington, D.C. and European/Middle East headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. He and the GAMA staff travel worldwide engaging regulators, policymakers, and elected officials to promote general aviation and advance the interests of GAMA’s global membership of more than 100 airframe, avionics, engine, and component manufacturers, as well as the world’s leading business aviation maintenance, repair, and overall companies.

Pete retired from the United States Air Force in March 2005, with his last assignment as the Director of the Air Force Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liaison. During his 26-year Air Force career, Pete flew F-15s and A-10s, while commanding several large operational fighter units.

A Wisconsin native, Pete learned to fly as a teenager in the skies over southern Wisconsin. He entered the Air Force in 1979 as an honor graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He received his master’s degree in International Affairs from Troy University in 1988 and was an International Affairs Fellow at Harvard University in 1996-97.

Pete is an active pilot with more than 7,000 hours in military fighter and training aircraft as well as civil piston, turboprop, and business jet aircraft. He holds an FAA airline transport certificate and seaplane rating, and serves on the board of directors of the Recreational Aviation Foundation, Veterans Airlift Command, the U.S. Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation, America’s Warrior Partnership, and the Air Care Alliance. Pete is also a member of both the FAA’s NextGen Advisory Committee, MITRE Corporation’s Aviation Advisory Committee and the NASA Advisory Council Aeronautics Committee.

In May 2015, Pete organized the Arsenal of Democracy World War II Victory Flyover the U.S. Capitol Mall. More than 50 warbirds flew down Independence Avenue, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Allies Victory in Europe.

Pete was named the 2007 Aviation Industry Leader of the Year by the Living Legends of Aviation. In December 2009, he was awarded the ICAS Sword of Excellence, the air show industry’s premier annual award. In January 2010, he was inducted as one of the 70 Living Legends of Aviation. Pete and his wife Patty reside in Arlington, Virginia, and have six children.