Occidental Petroleum flies to Midland as CEO transition nears

Occidental Petroleum flew from Cavern City Air Terminal in Carlsbad, New Mexico, to Midland International Air and Space Port on May 13, a 25-minute hop that placed the company's ERJ-175 (tail N170XY) in the heart of the Permian Basin. The short flight followed a pattern of recent trips between Houston, Midland, and Carlsbad — the Delaware Basin gateway — suggesting operational reviews or succession-related meetings.

The same week, Occidental Petroleum was executing a historic leadership handoff. On May 1, the company announced that Vicki Hollub would retire as president and CEO effective June 1, with COO Richard Jackson succeeding her [globenewswire.com](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/01/3285910/0/en/Occidental-Announces-CEO-Succession.html). During the May 6 Q1 earnings call, Hollub confirmed the timeline and Jackson noted the company had beaten guidance in key segments [finance.yahoo.com](https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/energy/articles/occidental-petroleum-oxy-beats-guidance-235549855.html). Jackson, who joined Occidental Petroleum in 2003, has deep Permian experience, having served as general manager of the Delaware Basin [rigzone.com](https://www.rigzone.com/news/occidental_coo_jackson_to_replace_ceo_hollub-04-may-2026-183600-article/).

The flight from Carlsbad to Midland — a 25-minute hop across the New Mexico-Texas line — fits a recurring pattern: Occidental Petroleum's fleet frequently shuttles between Houston and Permian field offices. With the CEO transition weeks away, this trip likely involved site-level briefings or board discussions tied to the company's $5.5–5.9 billion capital program and its STRATOS carbon-capture project, which Jackson flagged for a repair timeline issue during the earnings call.