David Benito Astudillo - Spain
Biography
Born in Madrid in 1971, David Benito Astudillo holds a degree in aeronautical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and is a career civil servant in the Aeronautical Engineering Corps.
He began his professional career as a consultant in the field of information technology and telecommunications, and later worked as an advisor on air transport regulation in the public company SENASA, until he joined the Aeronautical Engineering Corps in 2010. As a civil servant, he has held the positions of national civil aviation security auditor at the Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency (AESA), head of the international agreements area at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and, since July 2015, deputy director general of air transport. In 2022, he was appointed director general of civil aviation and president of AESA.
He is currently a member of the Coordinating Committee of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and focal point for facilitation, and in the past has been a member of the Air Transport Regulation Panel (ATRP) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), vice-chair of the ECAC Economic Working Group, member of the AESA Governing Board and chairman of its Control Committee.
In recognition of his work, he was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Civil Merit in July 2019.