Ramesh K. Punwani was named as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief financial officer (CFO) on March 26, 2004. As CFO, Punwani oversees the FAA’s $14 billion operating budget as well as the development and agency-wide application of cost accounting and financial management systems. Punwani joined the agency following his work as senior vice president for global strategy at the Cendant Corp.
Punwani’s background in aviation and the travel industry spans over three decades that includes CFO and vice president positions for Pan American World Airways, Tower Air, and Trans World Airlines. Prior to joining Cendant Corp, Punwani was the executive vice president and CFO of Travelocity.com as the innovative internet travel company grew to become a $3 billion enterprise and the largest public e-travel company. Punwani was also vice president of tour and cruise relations and director of business development for American Express before joining Travelocity.com. From September 1993 to 1996, Punwani was senior vice president and CFO for Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Punwani received a Master of Business Administration degree from New York University in 1978 and a Master of Engineering in management science from Cornell University in 1966. Punwani also holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in industrial engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai, India.