Bob McClelland

Bob McClelland is an aviation safety professional, with over two decades of leadership experience in air cargo operations, regulatory collaboration, and hazardous materials management. Bob retired from UPS Airlines in March 2024 after a distinguished 34-year career, most recently serving as Managing Director of Safety, Compliance & Dangerous Goods. In that role, he led five major divisions and was instrumental in embedding a robust Safety Management System across the airline. His leadership was especially critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he helped secure FAA confidence to transport large volumes of dry ice for vaccine distribution.

From 2003 to 2017, Bob served as UPS’s Dangerous Goods Director, where he led lithium battery safety initiatives, supported the NTSB’s investigation into UPS Flight 6, and represented UPS at global forums including IATA and ICAO. He also led the airline’s 24/7 hazardous materials helpdesk, handling over 250,000 calls annually.

In 2025, Bob transitioned to UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE) as Senior Program Manager, Transportation Safety, continuing his mission to improve safety across the transportation landscape. His current work is informed by his leadership on the U.S. DOT’s Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee, where he introduced the TRIP program’s capabilities, and his involvement in a Transportation Research Board study on dry ice transport. He holds a BBA in Marketing from the University of Houston and completed executive education at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.