Executive Council

Longtime aerospace negotiator and leader Jody Bennett joined the IAM’s Executive Council as Resident General Vice-President on Jan. 1, 2024. In this role, Bennett assists the International President with managing departments at IAM Headquarters.

Bennett, a 33-year IAM member, initiated into IAM Local 2771 (District 776) in 1989 as an aircraft mechanic at DynCorps in Wichita Falls, Texas. He quickly became involved in the union once he and his coworkers organized with the IAM, becoming a Steward, Negotiating Committee Member, Conductor Sentinel, and Chief Steward.

Bennett became a District 776 Business Representative in 2004 and Assistant Directing Business Representative in 2006. In 2012, he joined the International as an Aerospace Department Special Representative before becoming Aerospace Coordinator in 2013. In 2017, Bennett became the Aerospace Department Chief of Staff.

Bennett is renowned across the aerospace, defense and Service Contract Act industries as a tough negotiator, often going up against some of the largest and most powerful corporations in the world.