McGee Air Services is reinventing how airport and ground services are provided. Think of us as the “un-vendor.” Not rigid or status quo. But agile, creative problem solvers. From baggage handling to airplane cleaning, from check-in services to ground operations, from ramping to mobility assistance, we’ll bring energy you’ve never seen to your operations and customer service.
Helping airlines and airports perform beyond the common norms
McGee teams are governed by accountability and ownership. We see ourselves as extensions of our customers’ brands. When we perform our ground and airport services well, our customers are the beneficiaries. There’s a chain reaction of exceptional service. When bags roll down the conveyor promptly. When passengers are cared for with respect and cheerfulness in a wheelchair transport. When aircraft interiors are sparkly clean. When gate lines move smoothly.
Owned by one of the highest-ranked airlines on the planet
Our parent company is Alaska Airlines, the nation’s fifth-largest airline, serving 100+ destinations across North America. Alaska has intentionally built a culture of safety, performance, and caring deeply for customers and employees alike, which is reflected in consistent top rankings on “Best Places to Work” and “Best Airlines” lists, including those from Forbes, J.D. Power, U.S. News & World Report, Kayak, and Tripadvisor. Excellence is in our DNA.
A legacy of making things happen
The name McGee actually traces its roots back to 1932, when Linious “Mac” McGee created McGee Airways, the forerunner of Alaska Airlines, to serve the rough-and-tumble Alaskan frontier. The name represents an entrepreneurial spirit, work ethic, and fortitude. And it carries forward to today, as McGee operates independently of our parent company with a sole focus on airline services.
Meet the McGee Leadership Team
Ben Reed
President
Ben started his career as a CPA for Deloitte & Touche. He joined Alaska Airlines in 2009 as an internal auditor before moving, in 2012, to airport operations and customer service as the manager of airport quality assurance. Ben was promoted to director of aviation security and regulatory compliance in 2013. Before joining McGee Air Services in 2016, Ben served as director of station operations support for Alaska Airlines, where he oversaw resource planning, cabin cleaning, ground support equipment, and deicing.
Ben has proven to be a tremendously talented and versatile team player. He joined McGee Air Services in May 2016 as Managing Director of Safety and Compliance, then assumed responsibility for Seattle’s (SEA) ramp service operation in July 2017, followed by Paine Field (PAE) in March 2019. In February 2020, Ben resumed the role of Managing Director of Safety and Compliance and, after serving in key leadership roles over the years, now serves as President.
Ben earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Brigham Young University
Marie Underwood
CFO and Managing Director, Finance
Marie started with United Airlines in 1994 and worked in several positions of increasing responsibility before leaving for Mesa Air Group in 2005. She joined Horizon Air in 2006 as the division controller for maintenance. In 2008, she transitioned to Alaska Airlines, initially as division controller for maintenance and engineering, and then as division controller for airport operations and customer service. Marie has been consistently recognized for her ability to balance the needs of the business with the need to manage costs, for her ability to optimize processes, and for her dependability and attention to detail.
Marie holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Portland and earned her Executive MBA degree at the University of Washington.
Frank Rodriguez
Managing Director, LAX, SFO, SJC, PDX, PAE
Frank began his aviation career with American Airlines (AA) as a fleet service clerk at O’Hare International Airport. During his tenure at AA, Frank assumed various roles and locations, leading both customer service and ramp operations, including Ramp Service Supervisor (Chicago), Customer Service Manager (Albuquerque, Denver), and Area General Manager (Burbank, Bakersfield, Fresno, Oakland). Following his aviation career path, he spent a year with the FAA as a Civil Aviation Security Inspector – Special Agent, in San Francisco, and with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as an Assistant Federal Security Director for screening operations in Oakland, CA. Frank returned to airline operations in 2013, joining Virgin America as a Guest Services Supervisor for SFO, and was later promoted to Duty Manager at Alaska Airlines in 2017. Frank became the General Manager at GAT Airline Ground Support in 2018 at SFO, overseeing ground operations for multiple airlines for over four years.
Frank joined McGee in 2023 as the Director of Station Operations for San Francisco International Airport (SFO), bringing over 30 years of experience in the industry. He is the Managing Director of Operations for Los Angeles, Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, Portland, and Paine Field. Frank is recognized for his servant leadership, dedication to customer satisfaction, cost management, and operational reliability, and he takes pleasure in collaborating with his team to achieve success.
Melvin Johnson
Managing Director, SEA
Mel began his aviation career in frontline customer service roles at United Airlines, building a strong foundation in service delivery and team communication. Over more than 30 years, he advanced through progressive management roles overseeing large-scale airport, ramp, and customer service operations.
Throughout his tenure, Mel drove meaningful operational improvements, including a 71% reduction in lost time injuries through targeted process and training initiatives, and played a key role in launching United’s first international cargo flight from Atlanta to Frankfurt.
Mel is recognized for inspiring high-performing teams and integrating safety and service excellence into every level of operations. He is a graduate of McKinsey Academy and studied Sales and Business Management at North Harris County College.
Ryan Thomas
Managing Director, Safety, Training & Resource Planning
Ryan brings a decade of airline industry experience and a background in education to his role as Managing Director, Strategy & Transformation, at McGee Air Services.
He began his aviation career at Hawaiian Airlines, where he worked in ACAA disability compliance, represented Airport Operations in Union CBA negotiations, and later oversaw Policy & Procedures, Central Baggage Claims, and Initiatives, in that same department.
A graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, Ryan spent ten years living and working overseas before returning to the U.S. to pursue a career in aviation. His diverse experience informs his strategic leadership and commitment to operational excellence at McGee.
Stacey Carroll
Managing Director, HR
Stacey has been working in HR and related fields for nearly 30 years. She holds an MBA and brings deep technical expertise across total rewards, organizational design and development, and strategic workforce planning. Her background includes leadership at Hawaiian Airlines.
For more than 13 years, Stacey has served as President of HR Experts On-Call, providing interim HR leadership and strategic consulting across sectors including education, telecommunications, and large multisite organizations. What stands out most about Stacey is her passion for building people-centered, high-performing teams and empowering HR professionals to make a meaningful impact.