Former Brundidge resident Alan Spencer has been named vice president for economic development and public policy of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Spencer will manage all economic development initiatives of the Chamber, including retail recruitment and commercial development. He will also coordinate the Chamber’s local, state and federal public policy and advocacy efforts.

After serving 21 years as an active duty Air Force officer, Spencer spent four years in the private sector with a software development company, working as lead consultant on the federal government’s largest electronic business initiative.

Spencer most recently served 12 years as Chief of Staff to former U.S. Congressman Jo Bonner, where he advised on all major economic development initiatives, including the successful recruitment of Airbus and ThyssenKrupp. He also coordinated disaster response efforts following hurricanes Ivan and Katrina, as well as the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

Spencer is a graduate of the University of Alabama and Webster University. He received former Vice Presidents Al Gore’s Hammer Award for Reinventing Government, the David Packard Award for Program Management Excellence and the Air Force Systems Command Personnel Manager of the Year Award.