DALLAS, Sept. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- At a meeting
today, the Board of Directors of Southwest Airlines (NYSE:
LUV) appointed Dr. Thomas W.
Gilligan as a member of the Board. Dr. Gilligan
currently serves as the Tad and Dianne Taube Director of the Hoover
Institution on War, Revolution and Peace at Stanford University, a position he has held since
Sept. 2015. The Hoover Institution is a public policy
research center devoted to the advanced study of economics,
politics, history, and political economy as well as international
affairs. For a photo of Dr. Gilligan, visit
http://swamedia.com/photos/dr-thomas-w-gilligan.
"Tom is a special person with a brilliant mind and a passion for
serving others who will be an invaluable addition to our Board of
Directors," said Gary Kelly,
Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer for
Southwest Airlines. "Tom brings with him a wealth of
knowledge, experience, and leadership in finance, economics, and
business administration that will benefit our Board and our
Company. We're thrilled to welcome him
onboard."
Prior to his appointment at the Hoover Institution, Dr. Gilligan
served as the Dean of the McCombs School of Business at The
University of Texas at Austin from 2008
to Aug. 2015, where he also held the
Centennial Chair in Business Education Leadership.
Dr. Gilligan has held several key administrative roles at the
Marshall School of Business at the University
of Southern California (USC)
between 1987 and 2008, including interim Dean, the Vice-Dean of
Undergraduate Education, director of the Ph.D. program, and the
Chair of the Finance and Business Economics Department.
During his tenure at USC, he held
visiting appointments at Stanford
University (1989-1990 and 1994) and Northwestern University (1995-1996). From
1984 to 1987, Dr. Gilligan taught Economics at the California Institute of Technology. Dr.
Gilligan was a staff economist at the Council of Economic Advisers
in the White House from 1982 to 1983; and he served in the United States Air Force from 1972 to 1976.
Dr. Gilligan also currently serves on the Board of Directors
of KB Home. He received his B.A. in 1979 at the University of Oklahoma and his Ph.D. in Economics
at Washington University in 1984.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 45th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV)
continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with
exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 47,000 Employees
to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest
operates more than 3,600 flights a day, serving 95 destinations
across the United States and six
additional countries. Southwest service to Belize City, Belize, begins Oct.
15, 2015. Subject to foreign government approval,
service to Liberia, Costa Rica, begins Nov.
1, 2015.
Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent
data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms
of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates
the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of
which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate
connectivity while over the United States. That connectivity
enables Customers to use their personal devices to access streaming
music provided by Apple Music or to view video on-demand movies and
television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV
compliments of our valued Partners. Southwest is the only
major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first
and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply,
some airlines may allow free checked bags on select routes or for
qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare
differences might apply. In 2014, the airline proudly unveiled a
bold new look: Heart. The new aircraft livery,
airport experience, and logo, showcase the dedication of Southwest
Employees to connect Customers with what's important in their
lives.
From its first flights on June 18,
1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented
affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of
Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and
increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new
markets. With 42 consecutive years of profitability,
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known
for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's
performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the
communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and
the planet. The 2014 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found
at SouthwestOneReport.com.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online
at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines