Mike Ginter leads AOPA’s Air Safety Institute which is focused on reducing general aviation mishaps by providing free educational resources to all pilots. AOPA Air Safety Institute content is viewed over 10 million times per year and the GA fatal accident rate has trended downward for the last 30 years. Mike served for 27 years as a U.S. Naval Aviator, is an active GA pilot, and has logged over 550 carrier-based missions and over 5400 flight hours in various military and general aviation aircraft during his 40-year flying career. He earned his private pilot certificate in high school, owned a Navy SNJ-5 (T-6 Texan) for 12 years, and currently owns a Beech A36 Bonanza and Cessna 172K (180HP). Mike is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and National Defense University, and is Commercial pilot with Instrument, Multi, and Seaplane ratings. He completed 4 deployments to the Persian Gulf aboard various aircraft carriers and commanded a squadron of 8 S-3 Vikings from 2002-2004. Mike served as President of the North American Trainer Association from 2015-2018 (Type Club for T-6, T-28, and P-51 aircraft), and planned and led the AOPA National Celebration of GA DC Flyover in May 2024. Mike also volunteers with the RAF as the Ambassador for Maryland. He and his wife, Donna, live in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland.