Al Zapanta

President and CEO, U.S.
U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce

Al Zapanta is the president and CEO of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce and is responsible for operations in 10 regional offices in the United States and six in Mexico.

Prior to coming to the Chamber in 1994, he worked as an industrial engineer for Bethlehem Steel, and as Director of Governmental Affairs for ARCO until his retirement in 1993 after 18 years of service as a senior executive. During his time with ARCO, Zapanta was responsible for negotiations with Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) on oil and gas matters and the copper mines owned by Anaconda, an acquisition of ARCO. He was also the company's representative to local, state and federal governments on oil and gas legislation, environmental regulation, transportation-related issues (pipelines, ocean tankers, tanker trucks and rail tank cars) and public affairs.

Al has held numerous presidential appointments, including a White House fellow in 1973-74 and as Senate-confirmed assistant secretary of the Interior for Management and Administration from 1976-77. Al was also appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the U.S. State Department Advisory Committee on International Trade Technology and Development from 1981-1987, and by President George W. Bush as a private sector delegate to the U.S.- Mexico Partnership for Prosperity from 2001-Present. He was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfield to serve as Chairman of the Reserve Forces Policy Board (RFPB) from 2002-2004.

Zapanta's military record includes the award of the Silver Star, five Bronze Stars for Valor, the Purple Heart and 30 other awards during the Vietnam War. He was also awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Restore Hope in Somalia and Restore Democracy in Haiti. Zapanta was appointed by the governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia to the rank of major general.

Zapanta was born in Los Angeles, Calif., and attended local schools and college in the Los Angeles area. He currently resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife Rochelle.