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Ron Ricks is the Executive Vice President—Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer at Southwest Airlines in Dallas, Texas. Before joining Southwest Airlines, Ron was a partner in the San Antonio law firm founded by Herb Kelleher, where Ron worked extensively on the Southwest Airlines' account. All together, Ron has represented Southwest since 1981.

His responsibilities include oversight of the following corporate departments: General Counsel (Legal); Properties (corporate
real estate and airport relationships); and Governmental and Public Affairs; In addition, Ron is closely involved with all aspects of labor law issues as they pertain to Southwest's relationships with its largely unionized work force.

As Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer, Ron serves as a liaison to Southwest's Board of Directors with respect to the corporate governance, legal, and regulatory compliance aspects of the Board's duties.

Presently, Ron serves on the Advisory Committee to the Center for Advanced Aviation System Development at the MITRE Corporation which leads the research and development effort on behalf of the federal government to modernize the nation's air traffic control system. He also is a member of the Hospital Advisory Board for Methodist Dallas Medical Center, which was founded in 1927 and today is one of the largest medical facilities in the Dallas Metropolitan area.

Ron has an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and, earned a law degree from George Washington University, in Washington, D.C.