Rick Ross joined Insurance Office of America in December 2012 as a commercial insurance producer. Now with more than three decades of experience in the industry, Rick began his career with a major aviation insurance carrier as an underwriter. After just a few years with that carrier, Rick became the Southwest regional manager before he moved on to a large aviation insurance brokerage to join the agency side of the business.

Rick went on to start Leading Edge Insurance Agency, a division of IOA, in 2000. Leading Edge specializes in aviation risks across the board, from light aircraft to very complex and high-risk accounts. There is no aviation risk that Leading Edge will not consider. Leading Edge is appointed by every domestic aviation insurance company and, through partner agreements, can access nearly every aviation insurance market in the world, including Asian and European markets.

Leading Edge partnered with AAIRRG, who is the only risk retention group in aviation, to place excess liability for their members of up to 250 million. AAIRRG risk pull only consists of the very best Part 145 maintenance operations in the United States. Many members of AAIRRG have contracts with large airlines that have many specific requirements that must be met through the group and our excess placements. This keeps us involved with many of the major aircraft manufacturers and airlines.

Rick earned his bachelor’s degree in aviation science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He also holds multiple industry certificates, including the commercial multi-engine instrument rating, certified flight instructor, and advanced ground instructor.