Aviation industry veteran Paloma Adams-Allen has been appointed the new President and CEO of Airlink, a United States-based nonprofit that uses aviation to deliver humanitarian aid to communities in need. Steve Smith, who oversaw the company for 13 years, has been succeeded by her.
Paloma Adams-Allen, who has over two decades of experience in global development leadership and expertise, most recently served as the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Administrator for Management and Resources at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), where she oversaw operations in over 100 countries. She previously served as the President and CEO of the Inter-American Foundation, in addition to holding senior positions at Winrock International, the Organisation of American States, and USAID’s Latin America and Caribbean bureau.
“Paloma’s deep operational experience, global perspective, and commitment to empowering communities make her the right leader to guide Airlink into its next chapter. Airlink’s priorities include expanding our humanitarian logistics capabilities to enhance our capacity for disaster response—we are confident that Paloma can deliver results,” Todd Freeman, Chair of Airlink’s Board of Trustees, said.
Airlink, which turns 15 in 2025, uses its airline and logistics network to move humanitarian aid to non-government organisations for free or for a nominal cost, positioning itself as a key logistics expert.
“As natural and man-made crises become more frequent and complex, Airlink’s model—saving lives by connecting aviation and humanitarian partners to get aid to communities in crisis quickly and cost effectively—has never been more necessary,” Paloma Adams-Allen said, while reacting to her appointment.
All You Need To Know About Paloma Adams-Allen
Paloma Adams-Allen grew up between Jamaica’s Strawberry Fields and the very different environment of New England, and that mix gave her a sense of how uneven opportunity can be depending on where an individual stands. It’s part of what pulled her toward global development long before she ever imagined leading large organisations.
She started in roles where she had to learn by doing, working with regional groups, dealing with policy details, and talking to people on the ground. Those years at places like Caribbean-Central American Action and Coudert Brothers gave her the kind of experience that doesn’t show up in traditional leadership and corporate textbooks. These assignments also led her to the Organisation of American States, where she saw up close how complex international cooperation can be when cultures, governments, and priorities collide.
Later, when Paloma Adams-Allen moved into leadership roles, her work became more connected to long-term impact. At Winrock International, she spent her time bringing public and private partners together, trying to make development efforts more practical and sustainable. That experience carried over to the Inter-American Foundation, where she focused heavily on supporting community-driven projects, initiatives built from the ground up instead of the top down. At USAID, she stepped into senior roles that required her to manage big strategies and budgets while dealing with crises that didn’t wait for anyone’s timeline.
Now, as Airlink’s President and CEO, she brings all of those chapters with her. The job asks for someone who understands both emergency response and the long, slow work of rebuilding lives, and she has lived in both worlds. Her background—part personal, part professional—has made her the kind of leader who pays attention to the human side of global challenges. And that’s the approach she’s taking as she guides Airlink into the next set of challenges.