Executive Compensation at the Air Line Pilots Association (2021)

The Airline Pilots Association International (ALPA) is the largest airline pilot union in the world with more than 61,000 pilots from 38 US and Canadian airlines.  Based in McLean, Virginia, ALPA is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) (5) whose membership dues are approximately $3,600 annually (based on 1.9% of gross income which appears to be about $200,000 annually).

In 2021, ALPA reported total revenue of $222 million, most of which came from membership dues. Expenses totaled $163 million (including nearly $4 million in depreciation) with the largest expense reported to be compensation.

347 employees received $70 million in compensation which equates to an average compensation of $200,000.  230 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 25 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $1,434,941:  Joseph DePete, President
• $  699,932:  David Krieger, General Manager
• $  674,040:  Jonathan Cohen, Chief Counsel/Director, Legal
• $  654,235:  Bruce York, Sr Advisor & Chief Negotiator
• $  596,020:  Elizabeth Ginsburg, Director of Representation
• $  514,642:  Elizabeth Robinson, Director of Finance/CFO
• $  511,191:  Marcus Migliore, Sr Managing Attorney
• $  509,969:  Kelly Collie, Director, HR
• $  502,195:  Arthur Luby, Asst Dir of Representation
• $  499,981:  Howard Hagy, Director, Engineering and Air Safety
• $  497,623:  Marie Schwartz, Dir of Strategic MBR Dev and Resources
• $  486,759:  Andrew Shostack, Asst Dir of Representation
• $  465,712:  David Weaver, Dir, Communications
• $  462,034:  Thomas Ciantra, Managing Attorney
• $  445,294:  Elizabeth Baker, Dir of Gov’t Affairs
• $  444,835:  Richard Harrell, Dir, Info Tech and Services
• $  405,827:  Kyle Johanning, Director, Economic and Financial Analysis
• $  399,525:  John Schleder, Sr Labor Relations Counsel/MEC Coordinator
• $  393,912:  Randy Kenagy, Mgr, Engineering and Operations
• $  390,127:  Andrea Griffith, Comptroller
• $  387,907:  Catherine Powers, Managing Attorney
• $  382,387:  Lee Veid-Norstern, Mgr, IT Development and Support
• $  367,684:  Jane Schraft, Sr Labor Relations Counsel/MEC Coordinator
• $  250,994:  William Couette, VP, Administration/Secretary
• $  226,496:  Joseph Genovese, VP, Finance/Treasurer

The 25 employees listed above received $14 million in compensation.  17 of the 25 (68%) employees are male while 8 of the 25 (32%) are female (note:  Gender is not reported on a Form 990. Conclusions were made based on name and google searches).

The most highly compensated employee, Joseph DePete received more than $1.4 million in 2021 and $6.5 million in compensation from 2017-2021:

• 2021:  $1,434,941
• 2020:  $1,389,366
• 2019:  $1,305,050
• 2018:  $1,381,738
• 2017:  $1,188,806

ALPA paid a housing allowance or for a residence for personal use. Specifically, an officer who maintains a primary residence outside of the Washington, DC area is reimbursed for appropriate housing, meals, and incidental expenses while in the Washington, DC area and transportation between his/her primary residence outside the Washington, DC area.

ALPA provided discretionary spending accounts. Specifically, the “national” officers receive a monthly payment  for reimbursement of extraordinary expenses, both business and personal.

ALPA has a supplemental non qualified retirement plan. Additional taxable compensation related to a 457F non qualified deferred compensation plan was reported for Mr. Joseph DePete in the amount of $548,364 above.

26 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation. The 5 most highly compensated were reported to be:

• $2,568,648:  Virtual Flight Surgeons, of Centennial, CO for aeromedical advisors
• $1,167,885:  Coakley Williams Construction Co, of Bethesda, MD for construction
• $  845,000:  FYVE S, of San Jose, CA for technology
• $  826,704:  Home Front Communications, of Washington, DC for marketing/advertising
• $  649,210:  Kelly Press, Inc., of Cheverly, MD for printing

To read the IRS Form 990 (2021), click here.