As Chief Corporate Strategy and Affairs Officer, Schwartz is responsible for developing, managing and implementing department-wide policy and strategies that advance Los Angeles World Airports’ agenda and priorities. She creates cross-functional teams that work across organizational lines, fostering innovation, creativity and problem solving; manages relationships and communications with all internal and external stakeholders; shepherds the department’s innovation, technology, guest experience and digital strategy; and manages LAWA’s social responsibilities, including providing opportunities for local people and businesses. She oversees key divisions and functions, including: Airline Liaison and Air Service Development; Information Management and Technology; Guest Experience, Innovation and Digital Strategy; Government, Public and Community Relations; Airport Marketing; Labor Relations; Business, Jobs, and Social Responsibility; Industry Relations; and Strategic Initiatives and Coordination; in addition to assisting the CEO with Board Relations. A member of LAWA’s Executive Committee, Schwartz assists the CEO in developing LAWA’s policies and setting direction for the organization both internally and externally. She is a member of Airports Council International’s (ACI) Expert Group on Slots, which provides strategic and technical guidance to ACI World on the development of policy on airport slot allocation and the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines (WASG).
Schwartz joined LAWA in September 2018 as Chief External Affairs Officer, overseeing the department’s Government Affairs, Public & Media Relations, Community Relations, and Business, Jobs and Social Responsibility Divisions, and serving as rotating chair of the Deputy Committee. She spearheaded LAWA’s media and stakeholder engagement strategy surrounding such initiatives as LAX-it – LAX’s taxi and ride app pickup lot – and led LAWA’s successful efforts to secure more than $320 million in federal CARES Act relief funding.
Schwartz brings to LAWA extensive experience leading aviation, government and private sector organizations through times of profound change, challenge and innovation. She served as Chief of Staff to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, where she provided advice on the management of a $16.3 billion budget and more than 47,000 employees. While at the FAA, she coordinated the rollout of the first comprehensive regulation worldwide integrating small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS, or drones) into the National Airspace System.
As Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, Schwartz assisted with securing more than $60 billion in Federal funds to rebuild New Jersey and New York after Superstorm Sandy and with obtaining justice for the families of the victims of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. Earlier in her career, she was Deputy Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer.
Prior to joining LAWA, she served as Senior Director of Government Affairs for Charter Communications, where she developed, coordinated and implemented government and community affairs strategies on such issues as data privacy and bridging the digital divide.
A former litigation attorney, Schwartz received her J.D. from Yale Law School and her bachelor’s degree from Duke University.
