Christopher Aquilino is vice president of workforce development and industry solutions at the Culinary Institute of America. In this role, he helps shape the future of work, positioning CIA as the premier global partner for workforce advancement and industry solutions. Together with his team, he helps companies identify workforce needs and design and deliver educational experiences across a variety of sectors, including restaurants, hospitality, healthcare, senior living, corporate dining, education, government, and the military.
Aquilino joined CIA in 2026, bringing more than 35 years of executive leadership experience spanning culinary operations, workforce development, organizational strategy, innovation, and talent development. He has built high-performing teams, developed industry-leading education and training initiatives, and partnered with executive leaders to transform complex business challenges into scalable solutions that deliver measurable results.
A passionate advocate for lifelong learning, he has spent much of his career helping culinarians and hospitality professionals advance through structured development programs, mentorship, and skills-based learning. He has consistently championed initiatives that improve retention, engagement, leadership readiness, and performance. Most recently, Aquilino was chief culinary officer for Elior North America.
He is deeply committed to the future of foodservice and hospitality and believes that investing in people is the most powerful way to strengthen organizations, create opportunities, and develop the next generation of industry leaders.
Aquilino served as chapter president of the American Culinary Federation for three years and was an advisory board member of Vitamix Commercial for nearly five years. He was recently inducted into the 2026 Academie Culinaire de France.
In addition to his bachelor’s degree in Fine and Studio Art from the University at Albany, he holds a certificate in Culinary Arts from CIA.
Aquilino is one of six US chief ambassadors for the Burnt Chef Project, a global non-profit organization dedicated to making the hospitality profession healthier and more sustainable through removing stigma around mental health and providing education and supportive resources.
Outside of work, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife, Angela and two sons, exploring the intersection of food, travel, and culture, and mentoring the next generation of culinary professionals.