Mr Pete McGlade | Senior Strategic Advisor
Southwest Airlines

Pete McGlade’s career has evolved from management trainee to executive leadership. Although born in Newry, Co. Down, Ireland, Mr. McGlade grew up in New York City and Yonkers, New York. After earning a BS in General Management from Purdue University in 1975, Mr. McGlade worked as a supervisor in a cheese packaging plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 1975 was also a very difficult economic year to be graduating from college, and this position helped develop skills which could be transferred to an operational position at an airline. Obtaining an operations management trainee position at Northwest Orient in 1976 provided exposure and experience in all facets of airline operations. Subsequently, the opportunity to be a ramper, ticket agent, ramp supervisor and assistant station manager was made available during his 4 years of employment with Northwest Orient. With the dawn of deregulation, Mr. McGlade was fortunate to work with 2 small entrepreneurial airlines, Aircal and PSA. From 1980 through 1983, he was able to combine his operations experience with his academic background to create an early Revenue Management Department, and develop planning skills necessary for the evolving market place requirements that deregulation required. Mr. McGlade’s employment at Southwest Airlines began in 1983, where he has had the opportunity to help grow and develop a small regional carrier of 39 aircraft to become the dominant U.S. domestic airline with over 500 scheduled aircraft.