Officer Biographies

Colleen C. Barrett

President

Effective May 22, 2008

Colleen C. Barrett is currently President of Southwest Airlines Co., a high-frequency, low-fare, point-to-point airline which prides itself in its excellent Customer Service qualities.*

In that capacity, she oversees management, Leadership, and budget responsibilities over the following areas/groups: the Senior Vice President Marketing (Marketing, Sales & Distribution; Online Marketing; Revenue Management & Pricing); the Senior Vice President Corporate Communications (Pass Bureau; Emergency Response; Public Relations & Community Affairs; Community Relations & Charitable Giving; Employee Communications; Legislative Awareness); the Senior Vice President Chief People & Administration Officer (People [Human Resources]; Leadership Development & Training; Manager in Training programs; University for People; Performance Reviews; Talent Development; Onboarding Program); the Vice President Customer Relations & Rapid Rewards; the Vice President Labor & Employee Relations (Labor & Employment Law; Employee Relations; FMLA/ADA; Labor Relations & Negotiations); the Vice President Reservations; the Director Corporate Security; and the Executive Office Staff. She is a member of the Company’s Executive Planning Committee, and she chairs numerous special Teams, task forces, and committees relating to Internal and External Southwest Customers.

Prior to joining Southwest (in 1978), she worked for several years as an Executive Assistant to Herb Kelleher (Southwest’s former Executive Chairman) at his law firm.

For Southwest Airlines, she served as a member of the Board of Directors from 2001 to 2008 and as Corporate Secretary from March 1978 to May 2008, and she served as Vice President Administration from 1986 to 1990; Executive Vice President Customers from 1990 to 2001; and President from 2001 to present.

Colleen is divorced; has one son and one grandson; is active in numerous civic and charitable organizations in Dallas, Texas; serves on the JCPenney Company, Inc. Board of Directors, the Ken Blanchard College of Business, and the Becker College Board of Trustees; and has served on numerous advisory boards and commissions.

*As a carrier that enjoys giving 101+ million Customers a year the "freedom to fly," we are proud to say that we have consistently received the fewest ratio of complaints per passengers boarded of all Major U.S. carriers that have been reporting statistics to the Department of Transportation (DOT) since September 1987, which is when the DOT began tracking Customer Satisfaction statistics and publishing its Air Travel Consumer Report.

Business Awards and Honors

National Association of Women Business Owners, (2008)
Dallas YWCA Centennial Award 100 Women, 100 Years (2008)
Purple Boot Award, Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Texas (2008)
Tony Jannus Award Winner (2007)
Junior Achievement’s Dallas Business Hall of Fame (2007)
Girls Inc. Honoree (2007)
Outstanding Woman in Aviation Award (2007)
World’s 100 Most Powerful Women: Forbes.com (2005, 2004)
Texas CASA’s Lone Star Champions For Kids Award (2005)
Horatio Alger Award (2005)
Women in Aviation, International Pioneer Hall of Fame (2005)
Texas Trailblazer Award (2005)
IWF Woman Who Makes A Difference Award (2004)
Aiming High Honoree: National Organization of Women (2003)
Featured in Texas Women—Trailblazers, Shining Stars & Cowgirls (2003)
Distinguished Women’s Award: Northwood University (2003)
Women in the Economy-Woman of the Month: NCPA (2003)
50 Most Powerful Women in Business: Fortune (2003, 2002)
Honorary Board of Advisors to the National Society of High School Scholars (2003)
100 Most Influential Women in Aviation: Women in Aviation International (WAI) (2003)
Woman of Distinction Award: Birmingham-Southern CollegeGALA XVI (2003)
Top 50 Leaders: Fast Company Magazine (2003)
Business People of the Year: Dallas Business Journal (2002)
Best Managers: BusinessWeek (2002)
Women’s Leadership Exchange Compass Award (2002)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Virginia Aviation Award (2002)
eComm Ten Awards: Business Wire, Inc. (2002)
Louise Raggio Pathfinder Award: National Association of Women Business Owners (2002)
Kupfer Distinguished Executive Award (2002)
People to Watch: Fortune Magazine (2002)
Staples Store Dedication in Claremont, NH (2002)
America’s Most Powerful Business Women: Fortune Magazine (2001)
Texas Business Woman of the Year: Texas Women’s Chamber of Commerce (2001)
Mentor of the Month: Women’s Enterprise (2000)
The Most Powerful Women in Travel: Travel Agent Magazine (several years)

Education

Graduated with highest honors from Becker Junior College, Worcester, MA (1964)

Personal Background

Born September 14, 1944; divorced; one son, Patrick; and one grandson, Evan Daniel.

Business and Civic Affiliations

The Ken Blanchard College of Business-Advisory Board (2006 - present)
Board of Trustees Becker College (2006)
Board of Directors of JCPenney Company, Inc. (2004 - present)
Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Dallas, Inc. (2002 - present)
Member, The Dallas Forum (1990 to present)
Member, International Women’s Forum (1985 to present)
Southwest Airlines Co.—President, 2001 to present
Southwest Airlines Co.—COO, 2001 to 2004
Southwest Airlines Co.—Board of Directors, 2001 to present
Southwest Airlines Co.—Executive Vice President-Customers, 1990 to 2001
Southwest Airlines Co.—Vice President-Administration, 1986 to 1990
Southwest Airlines Co.—Corporate Secretary, 1978 to present

Back to Officer Biographies Index