# Bob Jordan

> Bob Jordan is the Dallas-based president, chief executive officer and vice chairman of Southwest Airlines. A Texas A&M computer science and MBA graduate, he joined Southwest as a programmer in 1988, worked across finance, technology and commercial leadership, and became CEO in February 2022. His tenure has combined operational recovery with major changes to seating, baggage policies and the airline’s business model.

- **Role:** President, Chief Executive Officer, & Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at Southwest Airlines
- **Organizations:** Southwest Airlines, Airlines for America, Airlink Governors Council, Texas A&M University Engineering Advisory Council, The Association of Former Students, Hewlett-Packard (former), AirTran Airways (former)
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Texas A&M University, Master of Business Administration, Texas A&M University - Mays Business School
- **Known for:** Became Southwest Airlines’ sixth CEO on February 1, 2022., Helped develop Southwest’s e-commerce platform and Rapid Rewards program., Played a central role in the AirTran acquisition and integration, serving as AirTran president.

## Career timeline

- **1985** — Earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Texas A&M University.
- **1986** — Completed an MBA at Texas A&M University.
- **1987–1988** — Worked at Hewlett-Packard as a programmer and financial analyst.
- **1988** — Joined Southwest Airlines as a programmer.
- **1990** — Became manager of sales accounting.
- **1994** — Became director of revenue accounting.
- **1997** — Became controller.
- **2001** — Became vice president of purchasing.
- **2002** — Became vice president of technology.
- **2004** — Became senior vice president of enterprise spend management.
- **2006** — Became executive vice president of strategy and technology.
- **2008** — Became executive vice president of strategy and planning.
- **2011** — Became executive vice president and chief commercial officer; served as AirTran president during its integration.
- **2017** — Became executive vice president of corporate services.
- **2021** — Named incoming CEO.
- **2022-02-01** — Became Southwest’s sixth chief executive officer.
- **2023** — Added president to his Southwest responsibilities; chaired The Association of Former Students board.
- **2024** — Remained CEO following Southwest’s settlement with Elliott Investment Management.
- **2026-01-27** — Southwest began operating with assigned seating.
- **2026** — Named a Texas A&M Distinguished Alumnus.

## Achievements

- Became Southwest Airlines’ sixth CEO on February 1, 2022.
- Helped develop Southwest’s e-commerce platform and Rapid Rewards program.
- Played a central role in the AirTran acquisition and integration, serving as AirTran president.
- Led initiatives including the Heart brand refresh and a new reservations system.
- Oversaw the introduction of assigned seating in January 2026.
- Recognized as a Texas A&M Distinguished Alumnus in 2026.
- Bob and Kelly Jordan endowed 12 scholarships that had assisted more than 100 students, according to his 2026 alumni recognition.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — At Southwest’s October 15 media event, Jordan said a potential long-haul aircraft decision had not been made and emphasized following consumer trends.
- **2026-10** — Southwest outlined 2027 Rapid Rewards changes and plans for Southwest Icon Lounges with Chase.
- **2026-07** — Southwest reported second-quarter operating revenue of $8.4 billion and net income of $233 million; adjusted figures were $8.7 billion and $465 million, respectively.
- **2026-01** — Southwest transitioned to assigned seating on January 27.

## Links

- Website: https://www.southwest.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-jordan-25352b18/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/bob-jordan
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21