R. Thomas Buffenbarger

R. Thomas Buffenbarger International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

"The son of an IAM member, Tom Buffenbarger assumed his first IAM leadership post in 1970, at age 20, when he was elected steward of his apprenticeship group at the General Electric jet engine group, IAM LL912, Evendale, Ohio.

"Seven years later, Tom Buffenbarger was elected as a Business Representative for IAM District 34, Cincinnati. In 1980 he was appointed as an IAM Special Representative for the Great Lakes Territory and three years later became Administrative Assistant to the General Vice President for that territory.

"Buffenbarger came to IAM Headquarters in 1986 to work in the IAM Organizing Department and two years later, was appointed Executive Assistant to the International President. He served in that position under International Presidents William Winpisinger and George Kourpias.

"From 1991to 1997 Buffenbarger served as IAM General Vice President at Headquarters, functioning as chief of staff of all Headquarters operations. He was elected to the office of International President in 1997. Born Dec., 1950. Tom and his wife, Linda, have two children."

"IAM members are building America’s F-22 fighters at Boeing and Lockheed Martin, Aegis destroyers at Bath Iron Works and Bradley fighting vehicles at FMC Corporation. They are servicing US Airways planes, Union Pacific and Amtrak trains, UPS trucks and GM cars.

"As its International President, Tom Buffenbarger serves on two major IAM-sponsored organizations. He serves on the board of directors of Guide Dogs of America and helps lead the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League, the twelfth largest political action committee in the nation.

"Tom Buffenbarger is also a member of the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO. He was instrumental in launching the New Alliance, a program designed to increase the AFL-CIO’s impact at the grassroots level. In March 2001, he was appointed by President George Bush to serve on The Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry.

"His duties as international president span the globe. He serves on the Executive Committee of the International Metalworkers Federation that represents 20 million workers in more than 100 countries and as president of its Aerospace Department. Mr. Buffenbarger also is a member of the US Treasury Department’s Advisory Committee to the International Monetary Fund.

"Mr. Buffenbarger and his wife Linda have two children, Amy and Andrew. They live in Brookeville, Maryland."


 * Director, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
 * Director, Economic Policy Institute
 * Trustee, Solidarity Center

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