Suzanne Guy Alexander devoted over 30 years supporting aviation in the Federal Aviation Administration. Her first exposure to aviation came from her husband, Charles, who also pursued an aviation career as an agricultural and Airline Transport Pilot. Born in Scottsville, KY, in 1957, she grew up on a farm in Allen County, doing chores with her three younger sisters. A love of music in her early years led her to Western Kentucky University, where she studied music in undergraduate and post-graduate programs, ultimately graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music degree.

Unable to find opportunities using her music degree, Suzanne looked to the FAA and was hired in 1982 as an air traffic control specialist at Fort Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). After achieving full performance level as a controller in the busy airspace north of Dallas-Fort Worth, she began to expand her skills as an airspace and procedures specialist and then as an operations supervisor. In 1990, she and her family moved to Seattle, WA, where her responsibilities increased in the Northwest Mountain Region. Using her specialized knowledge and supervisory experience, Suzanne supported air traffic control facilities in Colorado before taking on another challenge as the Air Traffic Manager (ATM) at Boeing Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT). Most impressive at Boeing Field (BFI) was the wide variety of aircraft landing at the airport, including the Blue Angels, the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, the B-52 and B-1 bombers, and the Soviet-made Antonov. Based at BFI, the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company frequently delivered new aircraft to companies worldwide, and flight tested the world's most significant diameter turbofan engines on the then-new Boeing 777 during her tenure there.

In the next few years, Suzanne supported aviation as the Assistant ATM at Charlotte, NC, one of USAir's largest hubs, before going back to the Northwest Mountain Region, where she supported and directed activities in air traffic control facilities over the entire western US from Alaska to Hawaii and Guam to California. She also served as ATM for air traffic control facilities in the greater Seattle area, including the Sea-Tac Airport and the Seattle ARTCC. During this period, she was heavily involved in the development, construction, and transition of the brand new ATCT and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities in Seattle.

In 2005, Suzanne and her family moved to Memphis, TN, where she managed the busy Memphis ARTCC, a central point for aircraft transiting the US from all directions and the home of Federal Express' global super hub. Next, she accepted a position as the Director of Operations for the Eastern EnRoute Service Area. In this position, she directed operational activity for the eight Air Route Traffic Control Centers in the eastern third of the United States, ranging from Bangor, ME, Memphis, TN, to San Juan, PR. Her last and most challenging position was Director of Operations for the Eastern Terminal Service Area. Continuing to ensure safe and efficient air traffic service in the eastern US, her responsibility increased to oversight of more than 200 federal and contract air traffic control towers and TRACONs including Bluegrass Airport in Lexington, KY. The scope of her duties encompassed the most complex airspace in the National Airspace System in the New York metroplex area, some of the most critical airspaces around our nation's capitol in Washington, DC, and the world's busiest airport in Atlanta, GA.

Reflecting on her career, Suzanne said she is proud of her role as a leader in the National Airspace System, providing essential support to our national security and the US economy. She is also pleased to have led a unique group of public servants who work every day to ensure that the flying public can take their safe arrival at their destination for granted, whether they walk down a jetway to board a commercial flight or climb aboard a private aircraft.