Since its founding in 1974, the American Public Transportation Association has had strong leadership from its members. From 1974 through 1987, APTA had both an elected President and an elected Chair who jointly served in the capacity of senior elected official. In 1987, APTA transitioned to one elected Chair.
| 1974-1975 President: Stanley H. Gates, Jr., Houston, TX Chair: William J. Ronan, New York City, NY |
1992-1993 Chair: Louis J. Gambaccini, Philadelphia, PA 1993-1994 Chair: Rod Diridon, San Jose, CA |
| 1975-1976 President: Stanley H. Gates, Jr., Houston, TX Chair: William J. Ronan, New York City, NY |
1994-1995 Chair: Richard J. Simonetta, Atlanta, GA 1995-1996 Chair: Frank J. Wilson, Trenton, NJ |
| 1976-1977 President: Thomas O. Prior, San Diego, CA Chair: James J. McDonough, Chicago, IL |
1996-1997 Chair: Leslie R. White, Vancouver, WA 1997-1998 Chair: Howard C. Breen, Kansas City, MO |
| 1977-1978 President: Thomas O. Prior, San Diego, CA Chair: James J. McDonough, Chicago, IL |
1998-1999 Chair: Shirley A. DeLibero, Houston, TX 1999-2000 Chair: John P. Bartosiewicz, Fort Worth, TX |
| 1978-1979 President: Houston P. Ishmael, Memphis, TN Chair: Harold L. Fisher, New York City, NY |
2000-2001 Chair: Ronald J. Tober, Charlotte, NC 2001-2002 Chair: Peter M. Cipolla, San Jose, CA |
| 1979-1980 President: Houston P. Ishmael, Memphis, TN Chair: John L. McDonnell, Oakland, CA |
2002-2003 Chair: Celia G. Kupersmith, San Francisco, CA 2003-2004 Chair: George F. Dixon, III, Cleveland, OH |
| 1980-1981 President: Leonard Ronis, Cleveland, OH Chair: John L. McDonnell, Oakland, CA |
2004-2005 Chair: Richard A. White, Washington, DC 2005-2006 Chairs: Ronald L. Barnes, Columbus OH Howard Silver, Bakersfield, CA |
| 1981-1982 President: Leonard Ronis, Cleveland, OH Chairs: Eugene M. Barnes, Chicago, IL David F. Girard-diCarlo, Philadelphia, PA |
2006-2007 Chair: Howard Silver, Bakersfield, CA 2007-2008 Chair: Michael S. Townes, Norfolk, VA |
| 1982-1983 President: James H. Graebner, San Jose, CA Chair: Joseph Alexander, Washington, DC |
2008-2009 Chair: Beverly A. Scott, Ph.D., Atlanta, GA 2009-2010 Chair: Mattie P. Carter, Memphis, TN |
| 1983-1984 President: James H. Graebner, San Jose, CA Chair: Joseph Alexander, Washington, DC |
2010-2011 Chair: Michael J. Scanlon, San Carlos, CA 2011-2012 Chair: Gary C. Thomas, Dallas, TX |
| 1984-1985 President: Bernard J. Ford, Chicago, IL Chair: Warren H. Frank, Syracuse, NY |
2012-2013 Chair: Flora Castillo, Newark, NJ 2013-2014 Chair: Peter Varga, Grand Rapids, MI |
| 1985-1986 President: Lawrence W. Jackson, Long Beach, CA Chair: Warren H. Frank, Syracuse, NY |
2014-2015 Chair: Phillip A. Washington, Denver, CO |
| 1986-1987 President: Lawrence W. Jackson, Long Beach, CA Chair: Reba Malone, San Antonio, TX |
2015-2016 Chair: Valarie J. McCall |
| 1987-1988 Chair: Reba Malone, San Antonio, TX |
2016-2017 Chair: Doran J. Barnes |
| 1988-1989 Chair: James E. Cowan, Portland, OR |
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| 1989-1990 Chair: Daniel T. Scannell, New York City, NY |
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| 1990-1991 Chair: Alan F. Kiepper, New York City, NY |
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| 1991-1992 Chair: Louis H. Parsons, Toronto, ONT |
