on moral grounds as the process of bankruptcy was intended for the purpose of decreasing pension and other financial obligations made to employees. Arpey declined requests by both the AMR board and Horton to stay on in some management capacity because of his unwillingness to work under a bankruptcy scenario. As per his contract, Arpey did not receive any severance upon retirement. On December 1, 2011, Arpey joined Emerald Creek Group, LLC as a partner. Arpey is a member of the board of directors of S. C. Johnson & Son. He is also a member of The Business Council and involved in a variety of civic organizations. September 11, 2001 Arpey was executive vice president of operations at the time of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in which American Airlines lost two planes. Arpey made the decision to ground all American Airlines flights in Northeast US and then across the US before the FAA. References External links Gerard Arpey's Executive Bio on aa.com August 2004 interview with St. Louis Commerce Magazine 1958 births Living people American Airlines people American airline chief executives American Lutherans McCombs School of Business alumni American chief operating officers