Gerard J. Arpey (born 26 July 1958) is the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AMR Corporation, parent company to American Airlines, one of the worlds largest airline carriers. He was elected Chairman in May 2004. Prior to that, he worked as President and COO at American Airlines. Arpey was Executive Vice President of Operations at the time of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in which American Airlines lost two planes. Arpey made the decision to put a ground stop to all American Airlines flights in the Northeast and then nationwide before the FAA.