Statement from the Airport Director

July 10, 2015

Travel & Destinations

Earlier today, Maryland Governor Hogan announced his plans to appoint Director Ricky Smith to the position of Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer for the Maryland Aviation Administration, including the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshal Airport. Prior to his nine-year stint here in Cleveland, he served over fifteen years with the Maryland Aviation Administration. The Director has issued the following statement: 

I’ve invested enormous time and energy into positioning Cleveland’s airport system to be strong regardless of what happened in the industry or economy. Today, CLE is experiencing an air service rebound like no other airport in the history of this industry. This is supported by customer service improvements that are meeting, and in some cases surpassing, the expectations of the travelling public. Burke Lakefront Airport’s position as the premier regional aviation airport in the state has been solidified with airfield and terminal improvements as well as planned mixed-use development. The City’s Lakefront Development Plan is well on its way to becoming a hallmark in Mayor Jackson’s transformation of downtown Cleveland and introduce residential, retail, and leisure activity on the waterfront. Despite these considerable efforts, there is, and always will be, more to do. To that end, the Department of Port Control has one of the most competent and performance-driven management teams and workforces in the industry. I’ve never been prouder of a group of professionals than I am of the team we’ve formed to work in this Department.

Cleveland has always felt like home to me, but now I have a chance to go back to my first home. It has been great being part of Cleveland’s renaissance.