Alfred J. "Jack" Smith III, senior vice president of customer service, joined AirTran Airways in April 2002. He is responsible for customer service, security, airport operations, baggage service, inflight service, catering and cargo.

With more than 20 years of experience in the airline industry, Jack Smith served as vice president - global operations for Northwest Airlines where he oversaw the execution of multiple cargo and postal product lines at 165 locations throughout the world. He began his tenure at Northwest Airlines in 1992 as vice president - customer service. In the mid-1980s, Smith served as director of customer service, prior to serving as director of inflight service for Midway Airlines.

Smith began his airline career at Eastern Air Lines in 1974 where he held various positions before joining Altair Airlines as director of inflight service.

Smith earned a bachelor of science degree at Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y., and a master of business administration degree from Manhattan’s New York Institute of Technology. He resides in Atlanta with his wife and two sons.