Alexandria, VA (April 15, 2005) - The Airforwarders Association (AfA), the industry voice for air cargo companies and their partners, announced Elaine Dezenski, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning, Border and Transportation Security, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has been presented with this year's Jim Foster Award for Excellence. The award recognizes Ms. Dezenski's work to secure America's borders and transportation networks while protecting the flow of goods and services essential to the nation's economy. The award was announced at this year's AirCargo Conference, held in San Diego, California and co-sponsored by AfA.

"Ms. Dezenski is an important asset not only to the America's homeland security, but also to all industries whose work brings them into contact with DHS," said David Wirsing, executive director of the Airforwarders Association. "Her professionalism and commitment to working with industry stakeholders have resulted in strengthening our transportation security. Her efforts have fostered a proactive and effective working relationship, resulting in new cargo security initiatives that benefit all Americans."

The Jim Foster Award for Excellence is given to annually to an exceptional individual involved in the cargo industry. The award is named in honor of Jim Foster, who worked for more than 20 years at Northwest Airlines, eventually rising to the head of the airline's cargo marketing division. His experience there and as general manager of Target Air Freight demonstrated the need for a unified industry voice representing air forwarders on the important issues of the day. In 1990 Jim Foster and two of his colleagues founded the Airforwarders Association, which under his leadership grew to over 200 members worldwide.

"I am honored to receive the Jim Foster Award for Excellence," said Ms. Dezenski. "Freight forwarding is an important component of our nation's cargo and transportation infrastructure. I am pleased to be recognized for the effort to improve security on a daily basis, and appreciate the strong and positive working relationship DHS continues to have with industry groups like the Airforwarders Association."

About the Airforwarders Association
The Airforwarders Association, with a full membership of more than 250 members, was founded in 1990, and today provides lobbying, training, information, and other beneficial services to the air forwarding community. The association works closely with the U.S. Congress, U.S. federal regulatory agencies and administration departments, air carriers, service providers, and other industry-related entities throughout America and abroad. For more information visit www.airforwarders.org