Susan Kurland

Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

Susan Kurland is the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs of the Department of Transportation. As part of the Secretary of Transportation’s senior team, Kurland directs and implements economic and competition policy affecting the air transport industry as well as coordinates the Department’s international activities.  Her responsibilities include directing the Department’s participation in international aviation negotiations throughout the world. She also serves as the Department decision maker in proceedings involving the allocation of international aviation route authority, licensing of air carriers, providing air services to rural communities, and grants of antitrust immunity for international aviation alliance activities.

Background

She has extensive senior level transportation experience, in both government and private sector roles. Before joining the Department of Transportation, she was a managing director at Jefferies & Company in the areas of airport infrastructure and municipal finance, and headed the firm’s municipal finance group in Chicago. Kurland has also served as Associate Administrator for Airports for the Federal Aviation Administration leading the FAA’s national airport program. In addition, she has been Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of U.S Airways, and Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago, serving as general counsel for Chicago’s airport system.

Kurland earned her undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and her law degree from Boston University School of Law.