John Laughter is Executive Vice President, Chief of Operations and President, Delta TechOps. He leads Operations teams responsible for providing safe, reliable, industry-best operations across the globe with oversight of Technical Operations, Flight Operations, Operations Analytics, the Operations & Customer Center, Delta Connection and Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance.

As President of Delta’s Technical Operations division, John leads a world class team of aircraft maintenance professionals responsible for delivering exceptional customer service and brand-ready aircraft. He also serves as head of Delta’s MRO business, the largest in North America and the third largest worldwide.

John is a long-time safety advocate and previously served as Delta’s Senior Vice President – Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance. He directed the company’s overall safety, security, quality, and environmental performance programs, keeping Delta’s core value of safety first across the airline.

A 30-year Delta veteran, John began his career as an aircraft liaison engineer and held various leadership positions in Technical Operations, including Interiors Engineering, Aircraft Acquisitions, Materials and Planning, and ultimately served as Senior Vice President, Technical Operations. 

John is currently Vice President of Christ the King School Board of Trustees, and serves on the Georgia Tech President’s Advisory Board, Georgia Tech Flying Club Board, and the Board of Visitors of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. He previously chaired the Georgia Tech Aerospace Engineering School Advisory Board and served as a member of the Atlanta Habitat for Humanity Board.

John holds a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Emory University's Goizueta Business School.

He and his wife, Angela, are the proud parents of four sons and reside in Atlanta, Ga.