The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce announced retired American Airlines executive John Carpenter as the chamber’s senior vice president of public policy. Carpenter will oversee the chamber’s policy agenda and direct the government affairs staff.

“John’s deep understanding of the inner-workings of all levels of government and public policy coupled with his wide array of experiences in how business interacts with these entities will serve our membership extremely well,” says Gerald Roper, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce president.

Prior to the formation of his own consulting practice, Carpenter served as vice president of corporate affairs for American Airlines. In this capacity, he was responsible for directing all of American’s corporate programs and relationships with states, major cities, and airport authorities in the company’s domestic system.

He joined the airline in 1990 in Chicago as managing director, corporate affairs, responsible for the company’s relationships with state and local governments and civic and community leaders at two of American’s major hubs – Chicago and Miami. Carpenter was elected to the position of vice president, corporate affairs at American’s headquarters at Dallas/Fort Worth in 1994.

“For more than 100 years, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce has played a pivotal role in advancing the rich legacy of Chicago throughout the world,” John Carpenter says. “I’m thrilled to be working alongside the world-class government affairs staff who work tirelessly through initiatives like Pro-Chicago to ensure Chicagoans, elected officials, policy makers and business leaders are aligned with public policy that contributes to the health and success of our region.”

Carpenter has represented several organizations in addition to American Airlines. Those organizations include the Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition (2007-2009), an organization of nearly 30 cities and 5 counties in the Dallas area committed to addressing the critical transportation and mobility challenges of the region, the Aerospace and Defense practice of The Thomas Group (2008-2010), Continental Illinois National Bank (1985-1994), the Illinois Bankers Association (1982-1984), and the Association for Modern Banking in Illinois (1978-1982).

Carpenter is a trustee of the Chicago Zoological Society, past chairman of the North Texas Commission, and a member of the advisory board of the Asian Studies Program of Southern Methodist University. He also serves as a member of the executive committee of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. In the past, Carpenter has served on the boards of directors for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Midwest Board of Directors of the National Conference of Community and Justice, and World Affairs Councils of America. He was also vice chairman and a member of the executive committee of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. He is a 1978 graduate of Loyola University-Chicago and was awarded the Graduate Legislative Fellowship at the University of Illinois at Springfield.