Chris Rocheleau, who recently returned to NBAA as COO, was named CEO of Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), effective October 4. Rocheleau succeeds Kevin Burke, who has led the association for nearly 13 years. Burke will remain as CEO emeritus through the end of the year.
Rocheleau had rejoined NBAA last month after spending 19 months as acting and then deputy administrator of the FAA. He has had a career with the FAA dating back nearly three decades, and also spent a stint in the early 2000s as a senior policy adviser to the then-nascent Transportation Security Administration, and from 2022 to early 2025 with NBAA.
“The North American airport industry is navigating significant change, and Chris Rocheleau is the kind of leader ACI-NA needs as we look to the future,” said Cindy Nichol, director of airports for Sacramento County and chair of the ACI-NA Board of Directors. “Chris brings a deep breadth of aviation knowledge, proven executive leadership, and relationships across government and industry. He understands the strength of the organization he will inherit and shares our commitment to delivering meaningful value to our members.”
In announcing his upcoming departure, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen praised Rocheleau. “We thank Chris for his invaluable contributions to American aviation across several decades in the government, military, and industry,” Bolen said. “His leadership makes every organization stronger, and he is uniquely qualified for his new role at ACI-NA. We wish him all the best as he begins an exciting next chapter in the industry.”
While acting and then deputy administrator, Rocheleau helped navigate the FAA in the aftermath of the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision between a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. He has also helped advance efforts to rapidly update the nation’s air traffic control system and prepare for advanced air mobility.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, he held a variety of roles previously with the FAA, ranging from safety and operations to international affairs.
More In Airports
