Stayce D. Harris
About Stayce D. Harris
Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General and former United Airlines 747 pilot, Harris has served as an Independent Director of BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. (MHD) since 2021 and was born in 1959. She oversees 66 BlackRock-advised registered investment companies consisting of 101 portfolios across the fixed-income complex. Harris holds a B.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering (USC) and a Master of Aviation Management (Embry‑Riddle) and has cybersecurity oversight training; she is also a director at The Boeing Company.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States Air Force | Inspector General, Lieutenant General | 2017–2019 | Oversight of Air Force integrity, readiness, compliance |
| United States Air Force | Assistant Vice Chief of Staff & Director, Air Staff, Lieutenant General | 2016–2017 | Senior leadership/operations oversight |
| United States Air Force Reserve | Commander, 22nd Air Force, Major General | 2014–2016 | Command leadership |
| United Airlines | Pilot (Boeing 747, 757/767, 777) | 1990–2020 | 30-year commercial aviation career |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Since | Committees / Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) | Independent Director | 2021 | Aerospace Safety; Governance & Public Policy; Special Programs; aviation safety and cybersecurity oversight |
| KULR Technology Group, Inc. | Director (public company) | 2021 | Board service (past five years) |
Board Governance
- Independence and tenure: Listed among Independent Board Members; Director since 2021.
- Scope of oversight: Oversees 66 BlackRock‑advised RICs consisting of 101 portfolios (fixed‑income complex).
- Retirement policy: Independent Board Members serve until December 31 of the year in which they turn 75 (Board may extend on a case‑by‑case basis).
- Related‑party safeguards: As of July 31, 2025, Independent Board Members (and immediate family) had no beneficial ownership of BlackRock or its affiliates and no material interests in transactions with the Funds or affiliates in the prior two calendar years.
- Shareholder activism context: The Funds and the adviser entered standstill agreements with Karpus (through 2027/record date window) and Saba (through 2027 annual meeting/Aug. 31, 2027), requiring activist votes in line with Board recommendations during the periods.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Capacity | Committee/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Boeing Company | Independent Director | Aerospace Safety; Governance & Public Policy; Special Programs |
| KULR Technology Group, Inc. | Director | Public company board role in 2021 |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Aviation and safety: 10,000+ flight hours; experienced Boeing 747/757/767/777 pilot; deep safety protocols experience.
- Military leadership and oversight: Former USAF Inspector General; senior leadership roles overseeing readiness and compliance.
- Education and governance: B.S. (USC), M.A. Aviation Management (Embry‑Riddle), certificate in cybersecurity oversight (Carnegie Mellon).
Equity Ownership
As of December 31, 2024 (aggregate dollar ranges):
| Holder | MHD | BLE | BYM | BFK | MUE | Aggregate in Supervised Funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stayce D. Harris | $1–$10,000 | $1–$10,000 | $1–$10,000 | $1–$10,000 | $1–$10,000 | Over $100,000 |
- Note: “Supervised Funds” include share equivalents under the Independent Directors’ deferred compensation plan for certain participants.
Insider Trades (Form 4)
| Date (Trans.) | Type | Shares | Price ($) | Post-Trans. Holding | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-29 | Open-market Purchase | 10 | 12.0885 | 10 | https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1034665/000095017024118898/0000950170-24-118898-index.htm |
- Reporting name: “Harris Stayce D.”; Owner type: Director; Direct ownership. Filing date: 2024-10-30. (Form 4)
Fixed Compensation
- The Funds disclose a deferred compensation plan for Independent Board Members (share equivalents in “Supervised Funds” are included in ownership reporting). Specific annual cash retainers, chair fees, meeting fees, and equity award values are not presented in the available proxy excerpts.
Governance Assessment
- Strengths for investor confidence:
- Independent director with senior oversight credentials (USAF Inspector General) and complex operational experience; current Boeing board service on safety/governance committees enhances risk oversight expertise.
- No related‑party transactions or affiliate security holdings disclosed for Independent Board Members, reducing conflict risk.
- Demonstrated alignment via an open‑market purchase of MHD shares (albeit modest).
- Watch items:
- Direct ownership in MHD disclosed in the $1–$10,000 range; indicates modest fund‑level stake (though aggregate in Supervised Funds exceeds $100,000 via share equivalents/deferred plan participation across the complex).
- Scope of responsibilities is broad (66 RICs/101 portfolios), implying significant time commitment and workload across the fixed‑income complex.