Joe Sprague

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Headshot of Joe Sprague

Trustee

Background

Joe Sprague retired in November 2025 after a distinguished career in aviation, including almost 25 years at Alaska Air Group where he served in roles of increasing responsibility including CEO of Hawaiian Airlines.

Joe views having served in these roles as a privilege and blessing.

Spanning over 3 decades, Joe’s aviation career started with a job as a customer service agent for a small commuter airline in Alaska where he later flew as a commercial pilot. He also held multiple leadership positions with a large Anchorage-based regional airline and managed airline and air charter policy for a DC-based aviation trade association. He served at Alaska Airlines for over 17 years in a variety of increasingly senior leadership positions including senior vice president of external relations and vice president of marketing. He took a break from the airline industry in 2017 and 2018 to lead public policy and communications efforts for the Catholic Church in the state of Washington. He returned to Alaska Air Group in 2019 where he served for 4 years as president of Horizon Air, Alaska’s regional airline sister company. Joe and the Horizon team navigated the pandemic, a severe pilot shortage and a major fleet transition while safely delivering industry leading operational results. He then transitioned to the Alaska Airlines role of Regional President, Hawai‘i/Pacific and led the integration planning effort following the announcement of the Alaska-Hawaiian combination in December 2023. He became Hawaiian Airlines CEO in September 2024 and led the airline through the crucial first phase of combining with Alaska Airlines.

Joe has a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an executive MBA from the University of Washington. He serves on the board of Kenmore Air, an iconic Seattle-area float plane service and as board chair for Wings Airways, a long-standing Alaskan float plane tour operator. Joe also continues to serve on the Hawaiian Airlines board. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two grown children.