John DeLeeuw
Managing Director Safety and Efficiency, American Airlines
787 Captain
Captain John DeLeeuw is currently the Managing Director Safety and Efficiency for American Airlines (AA). He leads a team of over 60+ team members who participate in the AA Safety Assurance programs such as Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA), Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA), Fatigue Risk Management, and the Learning and Improvement Team (LIT) as integral elements within the AA Safety Management System. He is also responsible for Air Safety Investigations and Emergency Planning and Response.
He plans and manages the AA Corporate Safety Department's efforts to support American Airlines' commitment to be the world leader in airline safety. While working most closely with the Flight department, he interfaces with all AA departments to proactively identify and develop strategies and practices to prevent accidents and incidents. John and his team have implemented several safety initiatives benefiting the 16,000+ American Airlines pilots, as well as the entire aviation industry. He also serves, and has served, as the Party Coordinator for American Airlines in National Transportation Safety Board investigations.
John has amassed a total of over 19,000+ accident and incident free flight hours in his flying career. He is a current and qualified Captain on the 787 Dreamliner. During his 33-year flying career at American Airlines, he has flown both Domestic and International operations; flying the Boeing 787, the MD80, and the 727.
Prior to flying at American Airlines, John was a C-130 Hercules Evaluator and Instructor Pilot in the United States Air Force. He participated in Desert Storm and numerous classified Special Operations throughout the world. John worked directly with US Army Special Forces and Navy SEALS flying HALO airdrops, and flying insertions/extractions in combat and covert operations.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of Arizona, 1983 (cum laude)
Masters in Operations Management, University of Arkansas, 1991 (summa cum laude)
Aviation Safety & Security Graduate, University of Southern California, Viterbi School of Engineering