RTI International Selects Dr. Bucky Fairfax as New Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. —RTI International, a nonprofit research institute, today announced the appointment of Dr. Bucky Fairfax as the new executive vice president (EVP) and chief human resources officer (CHRO).

“Bucky is an innovative human resources executive with specialization in talent management, global HR, leadership, and diversity and inclusion,” said Tim J. Gabel, president and chief executive officer of RTI. “He will leverage his demonstrated success to drive our global HR strategy, lead the HR team and advise on HR policies, practices and daily interactions.”

Fairfax will serve as executive leader for RTI’s human resources and corporate communications functions, serving as a member of the executive leadership team. He will replace former EVP and CHRO Lisa May, who has retired.

"It is an honor to serve as the EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer for an institute that places so much value and importance on our people, culture, mission and growth,” said Bucky Fairfax, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at RTI. "I look forward to this opportunity and leading forward into the future with purpose and impact."

Fairfax joined RTI in 2006. During his tenure, he has held progressive leadership positions including HR business strategy, international HR operations, talent management and oversight for RTI’s international regional offices. Since 2015, he served as RTI’s senior vice president, strategic talent management, providing senior leadership, direction and execution of all talent management functions. Fairfax is an equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) champion, who played a leading role in the creation and implementation of the organization’s initial diversity and inclusion strategy. These planning efforts have grown into a formal EDIB program focused on racial justice and equity and strategic engagement and belonging, and an employee resource group membership of nearly 2,000 staff globally.

Fairfax earned his Doctor of Business Administration from Temple University, Master of Business Administration from Averett University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has also authored several articles on the role of purpose in employee motivation and satisfaction.

Read his bio and learn more.