U.S. Transportation Leaders to Headline American Airlines Safety Conference

Secretary Duffy and FAA Deputy Administrator Rocheleau to speak at annual industry forum

Apr. 9, 2026 at 5:54am

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An abstract, colorful blur of an American Airlines jet in motion, conveying the speed and dynamism of air travel.The American Airlines Safety Management System forum brings together industry leaders to drive innovation and safety across transportation.Fort Worth Today

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau will headline the American Airlines Safety Management System (SMS) Industry Forum on April 29-30 in Fort Worth, Texas. The annual event brings together safety professionals across aviation, government, and transportation to discuss best practices and ideas for improving safety.

Why it matters

The American Airlines SMS Industry Forum is a key annual event that brings together top leaders to advance safety initiatives and share learnings across the transportation industry. The participation of high-profile government officials like Secretary Duffy and Deputy Administrator Rocheleau underscores the importance of these discussions and American's role as an industry leader in safety.

The details

Secretary Duffy will be joined in conversation by American CEO Robert Isom to discuss the state of aviation safety. The following day, Deputy FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau will participate in a panel discussion alongside American COO David Seymour, DFW Airport CEO Chris McLaughlin, and GE Aerospace President Mohamed Ali about the role of SMS across different but connected organizations.

  • The American Airlines SMS Industry Forum will take place on April 29-30, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas.

The players

Sean Duffy

U.S. Secretary of Transportation who will headline the American Airlines safety conference.

Robert Isom

CEO of American Airlines, who will join Secretary Duffy in conversation at the conference.

Chris Rocheleau

Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, who will participate in a panel discussion at the conference.

David Seymour

Chief Operating Officer of American Airlines, who will participate in a panel discussion at the conference.

Chris McLaughlin

CEO of DFW Airport, who will participate in a panel discussion at the conference.

Mohamed Ali

President and CEO of Commercial Engines and Services at GE Aerospace, who will participate in a panel discussion at the conference.

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What they’re saying

“It is an honor to welcome Secretary Duffy to talk to leaders across the transportation industry about our top priority — safety.”

— Robert Isom, CEO, American Airlines

“Our SMS Industry Forum is a top event for safety professionals each year — one that American has proudly hosted for a decade. We're honored that Secretary Duffy, Deputy Administrator Rocheleau, Chris McLaughlin and Mohamed Ali will be joining us this year to share their insights.”

— David Seymour, Chief Operating Officer, American Airlines

What’s next

A recap of the sessions with Secretary Duffy and Deputy Administrator Rocheleau will be posted on news.aa.com following the event. Accredited members of the media can email mediarelations@aa.com for more information about attending the conference.

The takeaway

The participation of high-level government officials like Secretary Duffy and Deputy Administrator Rocheleau at American Airlines' annual safety forum underscores the industry-wide importance of advancing safety initiatives and sharing best practices across aviation, transportation, and government.