Albert Berchtold, D-27832, has been selected as USPA’s next executive director, officially taking the job on January 1, 2021. After an eight-month search process, USPA’s board of directors affirmed the decision this week.

Berchtold is currently marketing manager at Performance Designs, a parachute manufacturer in DeLand, Florida, where he has worked for 14 years. 

Berchtold serves on USPA’s board of directors, where he was first elected to the board as the Southeast Regional Director in 2012 and won reelection in 2015. In 2018, he ran for the board as a National Director and won. He has served as the association’s treasurer for the past seven years. As required by USPA’s bylaws, Berchtold will resign his board seat prior to his employment.

With more than 5,500 jumps, Berchtold is an active skydiver and international competitor who is a member of the current U.S. Canopy Piloting Team that is headed to the next world championships. Until just last year, he was also managing director of the Florida Canopy Piloting Association, a position he held for 12 years.

Berchtold holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and information systems and will soon complete a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in executive studies.

“I’m happy to be joining the team at USPA Headquarters later this year,” said Berchtold. “I look forward to working with an amazing staff, board and 40,000-member-strong organization to carry USPA’s mission into a spectacular future.”

USPA President Chuck Akers said, "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am thrilled to welcome Albert as USPA's new executive director. His vast sport, industry and business experience combined with his vision and passion for USPA and our skydiving family made him the perfect choice to take the helm. Albert will serve our membership well, and I look forward to serving with him."

Berchtold will become USPA’s 10th executive director since the position was first created in 1960. He succeeds Ed Scott, who is retiring from the position he has held for 13 years.