Leadership

Balram Bheodari

Airport General Manager

As leader of the world’s busiest and most efficient airport, Mr. Bheodari oversees all facets of Airport governance, including operations and a multibillion-dollar capital improvement program designed to pave the way for Atlanta’s growth over the next 20 years. For more, click here.

Chris Crist

Airport Deputy General Manager, Sr. / Chief Technology Officer

Chris Crist is the senior deputy general manager and chief technology officer at ATL. He is responsible for all aspects of the Airport’s technology including cyber security, network operations, software applications, and innovation and project management. Crist has nearly two decades of experience leading technology teams in transportation, healthcare, and the military. For more, click here.

Frank Rucker

Airport Deputy General Manager, Sr., Infrastructure

Frank Rucker is the Airport senior deputy general manager of Infrastructure. He oversees hundreds of Department of Aviation, program management and construction management personnel to ensure that all aviation facilities meet or exceed industry standards. He has more than 40 years of experience in civil engineering design and project management, with more than 20 years of progressive experience in the aviation facilities industry, directing sophisticated, sustainable design and construction projects. For more, click here.

Michael L. Smith

Airport Deputy General Manager, Sr., Administration

Michael L. Smith is the Airport senior deputy general manager. He manages the department’s day-to-day functions, including media engagement, communications, public affairs, business diversity, law, human resources, and procurement. For more, click here.

Jan Lennon

Airport Deputy General Manager, Operations 

Jan Lennon is the Airport deputy general manager of Operations. She leads the divisions that ensure the safety and security of travelers, employees and guests including Airport operations, public safety and security, law enforcement, fire and medical personnel, emergency management, maintenance, transportation and traffic enforcement. Ms. Lennon is also responsible for operation mitigation plans and security considerations for the Airport’s multibillion-dollar capital improvement program, ATLNext. For more, click here.

Bryan Benefiel

Airport Deputy General Manager / Chief Financial Officer

Bryan Benefiel is the deputy general manager and chief financial officer at ATL. In his role, he oversees more than 100 employees in eight units including capital finance, financial planning & analysis, risk management, revenue, budget and information technology. A certified public accountant, he monitors ATL’s nearly $1 billion annual budget and oversees the financing needs for ATLNext, the Airport’s multibillion-dollar capital improvement program. For more, click here.

Jai Ferrell

Airport Deputy General Manager / Chief Commercial Officer

Jai Ferrell is the deputy general manager and chief commercial officer for the busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

Ms. Ferrell’s professional responsibilities include oversight of innovation, commercial revenue, and commercial management. The Airport’s Commercial Development division is also responsible for properties and airline affairs, concessions, ground transportation, parking, advertising, external real estate development, air service development, customer service and marketing & brand strategy.  For more, click here.

Jordan Biegler

Assistant General Manager, Operations and Regulatory Compliance

Jordan Biegler is the assistant general manager of Operations and Regulatory Compliance. He leads the team that ensures aircraft and passenger operations are conducted safely, securely, and efficiently in accordance with all regulatory requirements. His responsibilities include operations, maintenance, and construction oversight across ATL’s Central Passenger Terminal Complex, five runways, and taxiway system. For more, click here.

Candace Brown

Assistant General Manager, Public Safety and Security

Candace Brown is the assistant general manager of Public Safety and Security. She manages badging and credentialing, ATL Enforcement, access control, insider threat program and maintains a collaborative relationship with the Atlanta Police Department. With over 17 years of airport public safety, security, and program management experience, Mrs. Brown holds the Accredited Airport Executive (AAE) and Airport Security Coordinator (ASC) designations from the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE.) She earned a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics with a double minor in Aviation Safety and Aviation Business and a Master of Science Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. For more, click here.

Scott Carr

Assistant General Manager, Commercial Management

Scott Carr is the assistant general manager of Commercial Management. In this role, he oversees the real estate and airline affairs, air service development, and nontraditional concessions for the Airport. Prior to his arrival at ATL, the aviation industry veteran served as a senior airport properties representative for Fedex, managing airport affairs, operations and planning for a portfolio of over 30 airport locations. For more, click here.

Elise Durham

Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs

Elise Durham, a two-time Emmy® and five-time Telly® award-winning journalist and communications professional with nearly 30 years of experience, is assistant general manager of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for the world’s busiest and most efficient airport. In this role, she oversees the Communications team, as well as International and Public Affairs and ATL Experiences. This is Durham’s third time leading a department at Hartsfield-Jackson. For more, click here.

Nidia Farnum

Assistant General Manager, Accounting and Financial Reporting

Nidia Farnum is the assistant general manager of Accounting and Financial Reporting at Hartsfield-Jackson. A Certified Public Accountant with over 25 years of experience, she is responsible for assisting the CFO and leading multiple major accounting and financial reporting functions including general accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, budget management and development, revenue management, accounts payables and accounts receivables. For more, click here.

Sharon Heard-Brown

Assistant General Manager, IT Operations

Sharon Heard-Brown is the assistant general manager of IT Operations. She is responsible for implementing and integrating technologies to support the Department of Aviation’s strategic objectives. Ms. Heard-Brown has more than 18 years of IT experience. In her current role since 2015, she provides leadership and a clear technological vision for the Department of Aviation and her division. For more, click here.

Augustus “Gus” Hudson

Assistant General Manager, Emergency Management

Augustus “Gus” Hudson is the assistant general manager of Emergency Management at Hartsfield-Jackson. In addition to emergency management, areas of authority include assisting in the management of administration and business, operations, security, and maintenance. He has been in the emergency management and aviation security industry for over 29 years. For more, click here.

Christopher Jackman

Assistant General Manager, Facilities Maintenance

Christopher Jackman is the assistant general manager for Facilities Maintenance. He oversees maintenance of the airfield, adjacent and surrounding land, and 30 Airport buildings to ensure the safe, efficient environment to move millions of passengers on more than 870,000 flight operations annually. Mr. Jackman’s division encompasses more than 180 professionals providing airside and landside maintenance teams, fleet management, procurement and support services. For more, click here.

Tom Nissalke

Assistant General Manager, Planning and Development

Thomas Nissalke is the assistant general manager of Planning and Development. In this role, he oversees the planning, design and construction of ATLNext, the Airport’s 20-year, multibillion-dollar capital improvement program. In addition to managing ATLNext’s implementation, Mr. Nissalke is responsible for all Airport planning and the ATL’s environmental compliance programs, environmental planning and federal grants, and regulations compliance. For more, click here.

Neville Randeria

Assistant General Manager, Capital and Financial Planning

Neville Randeria is the assistant general manager of Capital and Financial Planning. In this role, he oversees the capital financial planning associated with ATLNext, the Airport’s 20-year, multibillion-dollar capital improvement program. In addition, he is responsible for the capital finance, treasury and financial planning functions. For more, click here.

Tyronia Smith

Assistant General Manager, Commercial Revenue

Tyronia Smith is the assistant general manager of Commercial Revenue. In this role, she oversees Parking, Concessions, Customer Experience, Ground Transportation, and Marketing and Brand Strategy. The Greensboro, North Carolina native began her career with the City of Atlanta as a member of the Department of Law in 2020. There, she managed the Finance Team, supervised the Municipal Governance team that advised the City’s public safety departments, advised the Mayor’s Office of Contract Compliance, and served as senior counsel for Hartsfield-Jackson. For more, click here.

Walter Vinson

Assistant General Manager, Business Diversity and Government Affairs

Walter Vinson is the assistant general manager of Business Diversity and Government Affairs. In this role, Walter manages the integration and inclusion of small, minority and female-owned firm participation in the Airport’s capital improvement program. In addition, he manages the Airport’s state and federal legislative affairs, including initiating legislation at all levels and monitoring state and federal legislation that impacts the Airport. For more, click here.

Andrew Gobeil

Senior Director, Office of Corporate Communications and Media Relations

As the senior director of the Office of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Andrew Gobeil oversees public affairs outreach and provides message guidance for all aspects of the world’s busiest and most efficient airport.  Such guidance includes communications strategies for Airport operations, crisis events, implementation of the multibillion-dollar capital improvement program, political impacts, security efforts, and non-aeronautical revenue generation. For more, click here.

Anita Williams

Legislative Research and Policy Analyst

Anita Williams is the legislative research and policy analyst. She manages the legislative process to ensure the timely development, processing and passage of the Department of Aviation’s legislation by the City of Atlanta. For more, click here.