James A. Viola is the President and CEO of GAMA. 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 140 airframe, avionics, engine, and component manufacturers, as well as the world’s leading business aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul companies.
Viola came to GAMA in March 2025 from the Vertical Aviation International association where he also served as President and CEO since January 2020. Prior to joining VAI he served as a Senior Executive for the Federal Aviation Administration in the positions of acting Deputy Associate Administrator of Aviation Safety, and Director of General Aviation Safety Assurance. As Director, he was responsible for maintaining consistency and standardization in the application of safety oversight activities for the GA community. He was a government representative on both the International Helicopter Safety Team and the United States Helicopter Safety Team, and most recently as the Industry Co-Advisor (with ICAO as the co-authority) on the Vertical Aviation Safety Team, VAST. Viola served on the DOT Advanced Aviation Advisory Committee to the FAA and has testified before Congress on safety issues and priority policy issues for the vertical aviation industry.
Viola’s aviation career began with the US Army, with much of his military flying done in the 82nd Airborne Division and in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. His final military assignment was as Division Chief for Army Aviation, Current Operations in the Pentagon.
A strong advocate for GA, Viola flies as often as he can. He splits his time flying between a Robinson Helicopter and an AG-5B Tiger airplane, depending on whether a runway is involved. He holds airline transport pilot ratings for helicopters and airplanes and is a dual-rated certificated flight instructor, having flown more than 80 make and models of aircraft. His accumulated flight hours are 8,000 plus, which includes 1,100 hours with night-vision goggles.
Viola holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States (U.S.) Army War College in Carlisle, PA; a Master’s degree in International Relations from Auburn University in Montgomery, AL; a Master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Science from Air University in Maxwell AFB, AL; and a Bachelor of Science from East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg, PA.
Viola holds professional membership of the Pi Sigma Alpha, National Political Science Honor Society; Lifetime member of the Army Aviation Association of America; AOPA, EAA, VFW, MOAA, SAFE, NAFI and the Theta Chi Fraternity.