Captain Bill Couette, Vice-President–Administration/Secretary

Capt. William Russell “Bill” Couette (American Eagle) serves as ALPA’s Vice-President–administration/secretary. In his role, he is responsible for overseeing membership programs and records, as well as all union voting and election procedures.

Couette said he is honored to serve his fellow pilots and is looking forward to maintaining his authenticity as a line pilot. “I’m not a polished politician,” Couette said. “I’m a line pilot. I am straightforward, and I am not going to change.”

An express pilot, Couette brings a new outlook to the organization. “I will be able to bring the perspective of that type of flying to widebody pilots,” he said. “I want to bridge that gap. I want to see the Association get tighter. As profitability for the airline industry is just around the corner, I want us all to benefit together,” he said.

As LEC 133 chairman, Couette assisted ALPA’s SkyWest organizing effort. He also served on the Strike Oversight Board for Atlantic Southeast Airlines.

He is originally from Maple Lake, Minn., where his mother, Celette, still resides. His deceased father, Russell, former member of IBEW Local 160, passed on to Couette a deeply held belief in the importance of a strong, unified union. Capt. Couette attended St. Cloud State University and graduated in August 1987 with a bachelor of science in aviation technology.