Melvin Cintron

Since 2015, Doctor of Science and Technology (honoris causa, UNPH) Melvin Cintron is responsible for providing executive leadership to achieve the Organization’s vision and mission in support of 41 countries (22 ICAO Contracting States and 19 Territories). He established the change strategy based on performance, accountability and measurable deliverables through “hand holding” assistance.

Mr. Cintron has over 40 years of combined military, industry, and government aviation experience. He served as Transportation Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, representing the Secretary of Transportation with responsibility for the rebuilding of the country´s transport system (road, rail, and aviation). He was recognized by the military and the civilians for having developed strategies that established the government civil aviation authority as well as the railroad authority, and the transfer of the military control of airspace to the civil authority. Likewise, he serviced the Iraq Reconstruction Office as an expert assisting in the reconstruction of Iraq’s civil aviation safety system from Baghdad.

He also served as United States Senior Executive. He held key senior leadership positions, including Head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) International Programs and Policy Division, where he transformed a small office into a Division infrastructure, with responsibility and capacity on the safety of United States’ airspace and of international aircraft operating in the North American territory. Under his leadership, the number of countries that obtained Category 1 under the FAA IASA audits increased 25%. He was a key member in the recognized success of the presidential program “Safe skies for Africa” by leading the establishment of the regional system in this continent.

He was appointed as head of General Aviation and Commercial Division, responsible for the strategies and policies governing United States’ general aviation under FAA’s flight standards. He established and implemented the strategy for the transformation of safety of the biggest and most complex general aviation worldwide. He served as Representative of the U.S./FAA in bilateral agreements with the EU, Latin America, Africa, and Asia‐Pacific. He developed the successful “Transformational strategy of general aviation safety”. He worked in aviation industry positions such as Director of Maintenance, Director of Operations, Chief Inspector, and Marketing Director for Latin America.

Mr. Cintron holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master in Business Administration. The title of Doctor of Science and Technology (honoris causa) was given to him by the University Pedro Henríquez Ureña, Dominican Republic. He completed the Harvard specialized coursework “Leading Regulatory Authorities”. He graduated with academic honors from the U.S. Army´s Warrant Officer Candidate School; he also was a Distinguished Honor Graduate of the U.S. Army’s Aviation Maintenance Officer School, and holds FAA Commercial Pilot ratings. He received the U.S. Army Bronze Star Medal in Iraq, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation International Award, the Senior Executive Foreign Service Award, the National Visionary Award, and an award of the American Trade Chamber of Dominican Republic (AMCHAMDR), among others. He has appeared as an influencer in several publications internationally. Likewise, he received high praise in press reviews for his publication/poetry books (Listín Diario of Dominican Republic and Hispanic Image Magazine).