Our Leadership

Carmine Romano

Senior Vice President – Maintenance and Engineering

Carmine Romano is Senior Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering for American Airlines with responsibilities for all base and line maintenance worldwide. Prior to that Romano was Vice President - Base Management, with oversight of American’s three overhaul bases – Tulsa, Oklahoma; Alliance Maintenance Base in Fort Worth; and the Kansas City Maintenance Base.

Previously, Romano served as Vice President - Tulsa Base, and before that, Managing Director-M&E overseeing heavy maintenance for several of American Airlines’ fleets, and contract maintenance for other airlines.

Fred Cleveland

Vice President – Base Maintenance

Fred Cleveland, Vice President – Base Maintenance for American Airlines, oversees American’s three overhaul maintenance bases in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Fort Worth, Texas, and Kansas City, Missouri.

Fred Cleveland joined American in January 2008 after a 28-year career in Naval Aviation Maintenance. In his last assignment, he served as the commanding officer for the Naval Aviation Enterprise Fleet Readiness Center, where he was responsible for leading all phases of the Navy’s largest airframe aviation industrial activity.

In his new position, Cleveland will oversee all maintenance, repair and overhaul activities at American’s three aircraft and engine bases where more than 9,000 employees work.

Bill Cavitt

Vice President – Engineering, Planning and Quality Assurance

Bill Cavitt is Vice President – Engineering, Planning and Quality Assurance in the Maintenance and Engineering department of American Airlines.  Cavitt joined American in August 2008 after 29 years of aviation-related engineering experience including a career in US Naval Aviation and Northrop Grumman Corporation.  Most recently, Cavitt worked with a technical analysis company focused on providing aviation related analytical support to the highest levels in the Department of Defense and Military Service decision makers.

In his new position, Cavitt oversees all engineering functions for the Airline including powerplant, airframe and components, as well as the M&E Quality Assurance/Inspections departments.

Ken Durst

Vice President - Line Maintenance

Ken Durst is Vice President – Line Maintenance for American Airlines with responsibilities for maintenance operations at all domestic and international airports.

Prior to joining American, Durst was an aircraft mechanic for the U.S. Air Force and held management positions at Pioneer Airways and Frontier Airlines.  In 1986, he joined American as a Production Supervisor.  He was promoted to Director of Maintenance for AMR Eagle in Dallas.  He then served as VP of Maintenance for American Eagle Executive Airlines.  In 1995, he transferred back to the Tulsa Maintenance Base as a Production Manager and then promoted to a Managing Director position which led him to become the General Manager of the Tulsa Base.  In April 2008, Durst was named Managing Director Line Maintenance Southwest Division.

Durst was named VP, Line Maintenance in December 2008 and oversees all maintenance operations for all domestic and international airports.