R. Thomas Buffenbarger

R. Thomas Buffenbarger is the 13th International President since the founding of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) in 1888.

The son of an IAM member, Tom Buffenbarger assumed his first IAM leadership post in 1970, at age 20, when he was elected Shop Steward of his apprenticeship group at General Electric Jet Engines, IAM LL912, Evendale, Ohio.

Robert Roach, Jr.

Robert started in the IAM as a ramp serviceman for TWA and a member of Local Lodge 1056 in New York. Soon after, he transferred to Local Lodge 1445 in Newark, NJ. He was elected as a shop steward in 1976 and served as Grievance Committee Chairman from 1979 through 1992.

Dave Ritchie

Dave Ritchie became IAM General Vice President for Canada December 1, 1995. As a member of the Executive Council, he coordinates the administration of services for more than 40,000 Canadian members of the IAM, oversees the organizing of new members in Canada and ensures that the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa is aware of and responsive to the needs of the IAM membership.

Lynn D. Tucker, Jr.

Lynn Tucker began his career with the Machinists Union in 1976 working for Miller Brewery, in Fulton, New York. He has held a variety of elected offices in the IAM including Shop Steward, Senior Steward, Local Lodge Vice President, President, and Vice President of the New York State Council of Machinists. Lynn was active and served in the Oswego, New York Labor Council and the Greater Syracuse, New York Labor Council. He also served as Director of the United Way in Fulton, New York, and was President of the Industrial Relations Research Association, Central New York Chapter, Syracuse, New York, and was an active member of CLUW and the NAACP.

Robert Martinez, Jr.

Bob Martinez joined the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in 1980 with Local Lodge 776A, Aeronautical Industrial District Lodge 776 in Fort Worth, Texas as an Aircraft Assembler. He served on many committees and in various positions with his local lodge throughout his employment at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Fort Worth Division.

Richard P. Michalski

In 1968, Rich was initiated into IAM Local Lodge 1916 and worked as a welder at General Electric in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He held several positions in his local lodge, including steward, chairman of the bargaining committee, and president.

Philip J. Gruber

Brother Gruber has been a member of the Machinists Union since his initiation into Local Lodge 688 in October 1972. He became a Journeyman Tool & Die Maker in the spring of 1976. He served as Steward, Chief Steward, Treasurer and the President of Lodge 688. He was elected as delegate to the St. Louis Labor Council, Missouri State Council of Machinists and Tool & Die Conference.

Gary R. Allen

Gary R. Allen is the General Vice President assigned to the Western Territory. The Western Territory includes thirteen states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Sito Pantoja

Sito Pantoja initiated into IAM Local Lodge 1056 in Jamaica, NY in 1977 as an Aircraft & Powerplant Mechanic. He served as a shop steward at Local 1056 until he transferred to Local Lodge 949 in St. Louis in 1988. He served Local 949 as Trustee and Recording Secretary and has been a full-time IAM Representative since his 1991 election as member and later Chairman of the local’s Full-Time Grievance Committee.

Mark Blondin

Blondin’s IAM career started in 1978 while working at an IAM-represented machine shop in Seattle, WA. He hired on at Boeing in 1979 and worked in the tooling department at the Renton, WA plant. As a member of Local 751C, Blondin held numerous Local Lodge positions and in 1996 he became a Business Representative for District 751 and President and Directing Business Representative in 2000. Blondin was also a member of the IAM Law Committee during the 2004 Grand Lodge Convention.