Today the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority selected James E. Bennett as President/CEO of the Airports Authority. Mr. Bennett will be only the second person to hold this position, succeeding James A. Wilding who will retire on May 2nd.

"We have confidence that Jim Bennett will provide the leadership and management skills necessary to continue the strong legacy of aviation service the Airports Authority has provided to the Washington region and the travelers throughout the world who use our airports," said Norman M. Glasgow, Jr., the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Said Mr. Bennett on his appointment, "I thank the Board for their confidence in me, and I want to assure them and the traveling public that the Airports Authority will keep focused on being an organization that provides a high level of service to the community. I know we will do this with the support of the excellent employees who work with me at Reagan National and Dulles International Airports."

Mr. Bennett has served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Airports Authority since 1996. In that capacity he directed the operations of the Authority including the administrative support functions and was responsible for airport management at both National and Dulles airports as well as Authority wide public safety, business administration, human resources and technology.

Prior to joining the Authority Mr. Bennett served as Assistant Aviation Director at Sky 
Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. In that capacity he oversaw the operations, business affairs, finance, planning and maintenance of the airport.

Mr. Bennett has also served as the Director of the Shreveport, Louisiana, Airport Authority, the Director of Aeronautics for the City of Flint, Michigan, and the Manager of Technical Services for Airport Operators Council International (currently, ACI-North America).

He has served in leadership roles within ACI-North America, AAAE Chapters and is the current Chairman of IAAE.

Mr. Bennett is a graduate of Auburn University (B.A., Aviation Management, 1978) and 
the University of Michigan (M.P.A. 1986). He holds the designation of Accredited Airport Executive from the American Association of Airport Executives.

During his tenure with the Airports Authority, he has also been involved in several regional activities, serving as the 2000 Chairman, Arlington Chamber of Commerce; Campaign Chair for the 2002 Arlington United Way; former Chair of Leadership Arlington and a member of the Board of the Loudoun County Economic Development Commission.