Richard J. Cross
Director, Technical Program Management, and Industrial Systems Engineering in New York, New York
Hi, I’m Richard! I recently moved to New York City after accepting a Director of Technical Program Management role with FTAI Aviation. Here’s a bit more about me and my journey.
I was born in the Philippines and grew up as a military brat, which means I’ve lived on three different continents. A good chunk of my formative years were spent in Fort Walton Beach and Orlando, Florida.
After earning my BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida, I moved to Seattle to kick off my career with Boeing. In 2014, I picked up my MBA from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. After 11 years at Boeing, I made the jump to Amazon in 2019 — and after 7 years there, I landed my new role with FTAI Aviation in 2026.
Beyond the day job, I’m deeply passionate about Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and I’ve served on several non-profit boards in Orlando and Seattle over the years. I’m also a lifelong learner at heart.
Outside of work, you’ll find me spending time with my husband Shawn, playing with my pets, hitting the gym, and catching up with friends and family scattered around the world. I’m also a musician — I play the trumpet — and a Disney Vacation Club member with 100+ trips to Disney Parks and Resorts under my belt.
My ultimate goal? To keep immersing myself in new cultures, both here at home and abroad. Traveling the world is a dream I’m always chasing.