Cargo Airline Association Hires Josh Dover to Lead Legislative Affairs

The Cargo Airline Association (CAA) has named Josh Dover its Managing Director for Legislative Affairs, handing the US air cargo sector's Washington shop to a lobbyist with more than 15 years in government affairs and aviation policy.

Dover arrives from Avis Budget Group, where he was Vice President of Government Affairs and ran the car rental giant's public policy operation across federal, state and local levels. Before that came eight years at JetBlue Airways as Director of Government Affairs — the stretch of his résumé that matters most to CAA's carrier members, which include FedEx, UPS and other freight and express operators.

What does this change for air cargo shippers?

In the short term, nothing operationally. Dover is a policy hire, not an operational one. But the move signals where CAA intends to push: safety, security, efficiency and the international competitiveness of the US air cargo industry. Dover will lead the association's legislative and government affairs efforts and coordinate directly with members, policymakers and industry stakeholders to advance those priorities.

That work lands on shippers' desks eventually. Air cargo policy in Washington shapes everything from security screening regimes and pilot-hour rules to customs modernization and cargo access to congested airports — all cost and reliability variables for forwarders moving freight in the bellies of passenger jets and dedicated freighters alike.

CAA President Lauren Beyer framed the hire in terms of reach: "Josh brings deep aviation experience, strong relationships across Washington and a proven record of advancing sound policy priorities. His experience working with Congress, the Administration, federal agencies and industry partners will be a tremendous asset to CAA and our members. We are excited to welcome Josh to the team."

A career built inside the building

Dover's path is classic revolving-door material, in the neutral sense. He started on the congressional side, serving as Legislative Director for Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii) and Legislative Assistant to Congressman Dale Kildee (D-Michigan). He then crossed to industry — JetBlue for eight years, then Avis Budget Group — building coalitions with trade associations and advising senior leadership.

The Hill has recognized him multiple times as one of its Top Lobbyists. He holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from Brown University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Pepperdine University.

For CAA members, the relevant line items are the JetBlue years and the Hill relationships. Air cargo advocacy in Washington runs through the FAA reauthorization cycle, TSA cargo security rules and infrastructure spending — files where an operator-side veteran who knows committee staff personally can move things faster than an outsider.

Why the timing matters

The association did not announce a departure Dover is replacing, and it framed the appointment as a straightforward addition to strengthen advocacy. What it does show is CAA investing in legislative capacity at a moment when air cargo carriers face sustained policy pressure: security mandates, workforce constraints and competition debates that touch express integrators and belly-cargo airlines in different ways.

Dover's brief is broad on paper — safety, security, efficiency, competitiveness — and the association has given him the title and the mandate to match. The practical test comes with the next reauthorization or rulemaking cycle, when his relationships with Congress and the Administration get put to work on behalf of freighter operators.

Beyer's welcome note closed on enthusiasm. The industry's read should be simpler: CAA now has a registered operator of Washington machinery at the managing-director level, and air cargo's policy agenda has one more experienced pair of hands pushing it forward.