Veteran Aviation and Association Executive to Lead The Voice of Airports®
WASHINGTON – Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, today announced that Christopher J. “Chris” Rocheleau has been selected as its next President and CEO. Rocheleau will join ACI-NA on October 5, succeeding Kevin M. Burke, who will step down on October 4 after nearly 13 years leading the association. Burke will serve as CEO Emeritus through the end of 2026.
“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. The Board is confident that Chris will build upon ACI-NA’s strong foundation and ensure The Voice of Airports® remains influential, forward-looking, and effective in Washington and Ottawa.”
Rocheleau brings more than three decades of leadership experience spanning aviation safety and policy, organizational management, national security, government, and industry. His career includes more than two decades in senior leadership positions at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), culminating in service as acting administrator and deputy administrator. He also served as Chief Operating Officer of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), where he held broad responsibility for the association’s operations and management.
Rocheleau brings considerable international aviation experience. His FAA career included senior responsibility for international affairs and aviation policy, and he has worked with aviation authorities, governments, and industry stakeholders around the world. Rocheleau brings proven experience working with regulators at Transport Canada, particularly on aviation bilateral agreements. He also served as the U.S. representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal on COVID aviation recovery efforts.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead ACI-NA and represent the airports and business partners that make our aviation system possible,” said Rocheleau. “Throughout my career, I have seen firsthand the important role airports play in advancing aviation safety, connecting people and commerce, strengthening communities, and driving economic growth. ACI-NA has an outstanding reputation, a talented team, and a strong foundation built under Kevin Burke’s leadership. My first priority will be listening to ACI-NA’s leadership, members, staff, and partners, and then working together to ensure our association and our industry are prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
Rocheleau assumes leadership of ACI-NA at a consequential time for North American aviation. Airports are confronting significant infrastructure needs, air traffic control modernization, workforce constraints, evolving safety and security requirements, emerging technologies, governance changes, growing passenger demand, air service connectivity, and an increasingly complex policy environment.
Rocheleau’s career has placed him at the center of many of the most significant issues facing the aviation system.
In January 2025, he returned to public service when he was appointed acting administrator of the FAA. He led the agency through the aftermath of the January 29, 2025, midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the subsequent nationwide aviation safety review. During his tenure, Rocheleau also worked to accelerate the hiring of air traffic controllers and helped advance efforts to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system.
Following the confirmation of Bryan Bedford as FAA administrator in July 2025, Rocheleau continued serving as deputy administrator through July 2026, helping advance the agency’s safety and modernization priorities and supporting the integration of emerging aviation technologies.
Rocheleau previously joined NBAA in 2022 as chief operating officer, with broad executive responsibility for the association’s work on safety and aircraft operations, as well as its administrative, financial, technical, and human resources functions. He returned to NBAA in August 2026 following his most recent period of service at the FAA.
During his earlier career at the FAA, Rocheleau held numerous senior executive positions with responsibility for aviation safety, policy, international affairs, environment, emergency operations, and organizational leadership. His roles included acting associate administrator and deputy associate administrator for aviation safety, FAA chief of staff, and assistant administrator for policy, international affairs, and environment.
Rocheleau began his professional career as an officer and special agent in the U.S. Air Force. He retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a lieutenant colonel in 2010. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University and a Master of Public Administration from City University of Seattle. He also completed the Executive National Security Program at Harvard Kennedy School and the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College.
“On behalf of the ACI-NA Board and our entire membership, I want to express our profound gratitude to Kevin Burke,” Nichol added. “Kevin will leave ACI-NA after nearly 13 years of distinguished leadership, having positioned the association well for the future. That is an extraordinary legacy, and it gives Chris and all of us a tremendous foundation upon which to build.”
A high-resolution headshot of Rocheleau is available here.