Charles Cunningham
Superintendent Of Dispatch
Dallas,TX
Summary
Almost 30 years of experience in Operational Recovery, with the past 8 years splitting time between Superintendent of Dispatch and Subject Matter Expert on the Baker Project. A proven forward thinker and problem solver with the ability to work unsupervised. Very good relationships with leaders in many other departments and routinely do presentations for those leaders and their teams. A proven leader and work well as part of a team.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Superintendent of Dispatch
Southwest Airlines
Dallas, TX
01.2001 - Current
- Trainer 2016-Present
- SME 2014-Present specializing in Operational Recovery and Network Recoverability and Technology Solutions
- Prepared Initial Baker User Guide
- Prepared all subsequent Training Material for Baker Operational Recovery tool.
- Have presented at professional conferences where our team won innovation awards for Operational Recovery
- Numerous high-level presentations at SWA
- Published Author with credits including a chapter on IROPs and many articles for SWA internal publications
Flight Dispatcher
Southwest Airlines
Dallas, TX
03.1994 - 01.2001
- Followed FAR121 rules and prepared flight releases one hour prior to each flight departure.
- Monitored flight and duty times, coordinated schedules and recorded changes in master schedule.
- Recorded flight status changes on aircraft schedule log and verified crew coverage for all flights.
- Monitored movement of aircraft to minimize delays and maximize safety.
- Served as a Dispatch trainer from 1998-2001
- Served as Safety Representative
- Served as a member of the GO Team
Assistant Dispatcher
Southwest Airlines
Dallas, TX
07.1993 - 05.1994
- Diligently studying and training for the position of Aircraft Dispatcher
- Provided support to Aircraft Dispatchers
Operations Agent
Southwest Airlines
Dallas, TX
08.1987 - 07.1993
- Responsible for weight and balance, ramp coordination, fuel coordination and in OKC, provisioning
- Customer facing position during the days of overbooking and free alcohol allowed me to hone my conflict resolution skills
Ramp Agent
Southwest Airlines
Oklahoma City, OK
06.1986 - 08.1987
- Safely operated various types of equipment such as conveyor belts, push-back tractors and tugs.
- Loaded and unloaded luggage and freight and assisted crew and travelers with bags for over 18 daily flights.
- Communicated closely with ground crew, flight crew, and tow person via headset radio to maintain loading and unloading safety and efficiency.
- Transferred luggage from aircraft to collection areas safely
- Experienced first hand seasonal difficulties and how they impact our operation
Education
No Degree - Accident Investigation
NTSB Training Center
Washington, DCDispatch License - Aircraft Dispatching
Kelmark Aeronautics
Miami, FL05.1986
No Degree - Accounting
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OKNo Degree -
El Reno Junior College
El Reno, OKHigh School Diploma -
El Reno High School
El Reno, OK05.1983
Skills
- Extensive operational experience enables very rapid problem solving abilities
- Very good at generating enthusiasm among Executives regarding technology solutions and Operational Recovery
- Experience in Project Management
- Experience working with Corporate Accounting on budgets
- Experience in UI design
Accomplishments
- Original and current member of the Baker team which was in my opinion responsible for making the operation manageable and allowing the airline to grow
- Presidents Award winner 2013
- Dispatcher of the Quarter 1999
- Operations Agent of the Quarter HOU1991
- AGIFORS Best Innovation Award winner
- FICO Decision Management Innovation Award Winner 2016
- Will soon compete with my team for the coveted Edelman Award 2016
- Too busy working to try for more awards
- Have cancelled more flights than anybody in the history of SWA
Timeline
Superintendent of Dispatch
Southwest Airlines
01.2001 - Current
Flight Dispatcher
Southwest Airlines
03.1994 - 01.2001
Assistant Dispatcher
Southwest Airlines
07.1993 - 05.1994
Operations Agent
Southwest Airlines
08.1987 - 07.1993
Ramp Agent
Southwest Airlines
06.1986 - 08.1987
No Degree - Accident Investigation
NTSB Training Center
Dispatch License - Aircraft Dispatching
Kelmark Aeronautics
No Degree - Accounting
University of Oklahoma
No Degree -
El Reno Junior College
High School Diploma -
El Reno High School