Leadership
Ricky Smith
Airport General Manager
As the Airport general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—the world’s busiest and most efficient airport—Ricky Smith leads one of the most critical aviation and economic hubs globally. He is responsible for the overall governance, strategic direction, and operational oversight of an airport that serves more than 108 million passengers annually, facilitates over 2,700 daily aircraft operations, and generates more than $750 million in annual operating revenue, reinforcing ATL’s status as an economic powerhouse. For more, click here.
Jan Lennon
Airport Executive Deputy General Manager
Jan Lennon is the Airport executive deputy general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. In this role, she works directly with the general manager to lead all aspects of the Airport to include but not limited to operations, finance, strategic planning, and infrastructure. A results-driven leader with over 25 years of experience in executive management, public safety, security operations, and large-scale infrastructure development, Lennon manages a workforce to position the airport for sustained global competitiveness. For more, click here.
Chris Crist
Airport Deputy General Manager, Sr. / Chief Information 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.
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.
Adrienne Ayers
Assistant General Manager, Planning and Development
Adrienne Ayers is an assistant general manager for Planning and Development. In this role, she oversees the Central Passenger Terminal Complex, Aviation Information Systems (AIS) Network and Infrastructure teams to ensure facilities meet the expectations of the traveling public. Ayers leads a team of planners, asset/facility managers, project managers, and construction managers to determine facility requirements and deliver them in a timely, cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and responsible manner.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.
April Broaders
Assistant General Manager, Administration
April Broaders is the assistant general manager for Administration. In this role, she oversees workforce, sustainability, and executive office administration. The Dayton, Ohio native brings a broad range of global, corporate, and regional experience in aviation, technology, software industrial, supply chain, manufacturing, R&D, consumer goods, operations, customer service, and operations centers for Fortune 50, 100, and 500 global corporations. 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). For more, click here.
Ashraf Demian
Assistant General Manager, Planning and Development
Ashraf Demian is an assistant general manager for Planning and Development. He is responsible for overseeing design management for all projects, as well as the Asset and Facility Management, Roadway Signage and Art divisions. This includes managing teams of planners, designers/design managers, and asset/facility managers, to determine the facilities’ requirements and deliver them in a timely, cost-effective, environmentally sustainable manner, and maintain to achieve the desired life. 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 Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs for the world’s busiest and most efficient airport. In this role, she oversees the Marketing, Communications, Community Affairs and ATL Experiences teams. This is Durham’s third time leading a department at Hartsfield-Jackson. For more, click here.
Karen Ellis
Assistant General Manager, Chief Customer Experience Officer
Karen Ellis serves as the Assistant General Manager and Chief Customer Experience Officer. In this role, she leads a dedicated team focused on enhancing the traveler experience, ensuring ATL remains welcoming and efficient for all passengers. Ms. Ellis brings 27 years of expertise in aviation customer experience and service excellence to her position. 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.
Bob Scalise
Assistant General Manager, Chief Information Security Officer
Bob Scalise is an assistant general manager and Chief Information Security Officer at ATL. He oversees the Airport’s comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, ensuring the protection of complex technology infrastructures and operational systems essential to safe and efficient airport operations. Mr. Scalise works collaboratively across the Airport’s IT and operational teams to align security initiatives with strategic goals, emphasizing cross-functional risk management and regulatory compliance. 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.
Ana Maria Taroco
Assistant General Manager, Planning and Development
Ana Maria Taroco is an Assistant General Manager of Planning and Development. In her role, Ana is responsible for overseeing project delivery with a focus on ATLNext Parking projects, the upcoming Aviation Administration Center, and the future Concourse E modernization project. She leads a team of planners, asset/facility managers, project managers, and construction managers to ensure projects are delivered in a timely, cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and responsible manner. Originally from Uruguay, Ana brings 23 years of extensive experience in the construction industry to her position. 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
Airport Director, Sr. Legislation Research and Policy
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.
