Dean's Distinguished Speaker: Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr.
Chairman of the Board, Allegiant Travel Company
- February 10, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm
“My Experiences Through Decades of Navigating the Airline Industry and the Economic History Surrounding It”
Join us for this special Dean's Distinguished Speaker event featuring airline executive and UC Davis alumnus Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr. (Maury).
He'll present on his new book, The 40-Year Flight: An Airline Odyssey, which intertwines the history of aviation today with his professional journey. He recounts the shaky early years following deregulation and the “Wild West” nature of the aviation industry at that time. His main theme: The aviation industry can teach entrepreneurs that business, like life, has many twists and turns.
Signed copies of his book will be available for purchase at the event.
RSVP required.
About the Speaker
Maury Gallagher has had a diverse entrepreneurial career, primarily in the aviation and telecommunications industries.
He has been actively involved in Allegiant Travel Company since becoming majority owner and joining the board of directors in 2001. He assumed the role of executive chairman in late 2024, in addition to serving as chairman of the board, a position he has held since 2006. He served as chief executive officer from 2003 through August 2024.
Before his involvement with Allegiant, Gallagher focused on his investment activities, including founding companies such as MPower Communications Corp., a telecommunications company where he served as CEO from 1997 to 1999 and chairman of the board from 1996 until 2002.
Gallagher was a founder and owner of ValuJet Airlines, Inc. (which later merged with AirTran Airways and was acquired by Southwest Airlines), serving as an officer and director from 1993 to 1997. From 1983 to 1992, he was a principal owner and executive at WestAir Commuter Airlines.
In addition to his airline and telecommunications ventures, Gallagher was an early investor in PurchasePro.com and a founding partner of BankServ.
Gallagher developed an interest in car racing in the late 2000s, after being introduced to the sport by his business partners. In 2011, his son, Spencer Gallagher, became serious about stock car auto racing, leading Maury Gallagher to found Gallagher Motorsports (GMS). GMS participated in the ARCA Menards Series through 2014, adding the Craftsman Truck Series in 2015. Through 2023, GMS won a total of 71 races including five championships: two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series titles in 2016 and 2020, and three ARCA Menards Series titles in 2015, 2019 and 2020. In 2021, Gallagher acquired Richard Petty Racing, forming Legacy Motor Club in partnership with Richard Petty. In 2022, Jimmie Johnson joined as a partner.
Gallagher graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1971 and holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. He has been a committed UC Davis supporter and served on the Graduate School of Management’s Dean’s Advisory Council for several years.
He and his wife, Marcia, are benefactors of the UC Davis Graduate School of Management’s campus home, Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr. Hall, which opened in October 2009.
He and Marcia reside in Las Vegas, Nevada, as do their sons, Spencer and Jordan (along with wife Elena and son Channing Maurice). Their daughter, Claire, lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Scott.
He enjoys cycling and golf and is a passionate supporter of the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels basketball team and the Las Vegas Raiders. He served on the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee in preparation for Super Bowl LVIII played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in 2024.