Stacy Morrissey, American Airlines’ vice president of engineering and quality, has been announced as the 2026 Airlines for America (A4A) Nuts and Bolts Award airline recipient, marking the third time a female has been honoured in its 60-year history.
The award recognises individuals who demonstrate outstanding service and achievements in the engineering or maintenance fields within the commercial aviation industry.
Morrissey joins more than a dozen team members of American Airlines and its legacy carriers who have also received the Award.
At a surprise ceremony at the Robert L. Crandall Campus, Morrissey said: “I’m truly grateful for this recognition and even more appreciative that I get to be a part of such a remarkable team at American.
“Aviation is an extraordinary industry, made possible by the passion, creativity and relentless commitment to safety of the people in it. Every day we come together and make the impossible happen.”
Morrissey joined American Airlines in 1998 as a fleet operations engineer where she led engineering support of the Boeing 757, 767 and 777 fleets.
In 2014, she was promoted to director of quality assurance, and two years later, she was selected as managing director of base and strategic planning.
Morrissey was appointed vice president of engineering and quality in July 2020, and she currently oversees engineering, quality control, quality assurance, reliability, aircraft configuration management, maintenance programmes and technical publications, leading a team of more than 1,400 members.
Kevin Brickner, American Airlines’ senior vice president of technical operations, said: “Throughout her career, Stacy has been known for mastering complex technical issues quickly, building trust across operational organisations, and driving solutions that improve safety, reliability and customer experience.
“She’s a visible, engaged leader who prioritises mentoring, talent development and building strong technical teams that people want to be part of for the long term.
“As part of that commitment, Stacy actively supports women pursuing careers in aviation and engineering, using her leadership platform to encourage opportunity, allyship and professional growth.”
Morrissey’s contributions to aviation reach far beyond American Airlines, as her work is focused on strengthening the entire industry. In 2024, she joined the Aviation Supply Chain Integrity Coalition, which works to prevent unauthorised parts from entering the aviation supply chain.
Justin Madden, A4A vice president, operations and safety, said: “Stacy’s decisive, results-driven leadership – combining rigorous engineering judgment with an unrelenting focus on safety and reliability – has strengthened fleet performance, accelerated predictive maintenance and digital tools and elevated industry standards through supplier accountability and cross industry collaboration. Stacy’s continued collaboration reinforces that this recognition is well-deserved.”
Morrissey holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Texas. She also serves on the board of directors of the Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth, a non-profit organisation that helps low-income students overcome barriers to college access and success.
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