He became the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Air Safety Institute (ASI) senior vice-president in 2020, having previously been its executive director from 2017.

[1][2] McSpadden began flying in his teenage years, inspired by his pilot father, and was based out of Air Harbor Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina.

[4] McSpadden served in the United States Air Force for twenty years, achieving the role of commander and flight leader of its Thunderbirds demonstration team.

[1][7] On October 1, 2023, McSpadden was killed in an aircraft accident in Lake Placid, New York.

[8][9][10] He and former American football player Russ Francis were flying a Cessna 177 out of Lake Placid Airport when the aircraft's engine failed.