Atlanta, Georgia – Atlanta’s Mayor Andre Dickens has appointed Ricky Smith as the new General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, effective April 2, 2025. Previously Executive Director and CEO of the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA), Smith has over 30 years of aviation management expertise.
MAA supervised operations at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Martin State Airport, and coordinated regional aviation activity across Maryland under his direction.
“Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport needs dynamic leadership to drive the continued growth we’ve seen over the past years and Mr. Smith’s extensive experience will help us reach more milestones in the years to come,” said Mayor Andre Dickens in a news release. “I want to thank Jan Lennon for her dedication and leadership while we conducted our search, and we look forward to continuing to work with her in the capacity of Executive Deputy General Manager.”
“I am both honored and excited to serve the Atlanta public as the new Airport General Manager for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – the busiest and most efficient in the world. Mayor Andre Dickens’ confidence in me to lead the City’s and State’s most impactful economic driver is met with deep appreciation. I am looking forward to working with the very talented and dedicated professionals at the airport and the entire City of Atlanta,” said Ricky Smith
Smith was instrumental in guiding BWI Marshall to five consecutive record-setting years for passenger numbers, so securing the airport’s reputation as the busiest in the Washington/Baltimore area and earning Airport Council International’s Best Airport in North America for Customer Service.
Smith’s leadership went beyond operational success to include notable support of minority and neighborhood businesses. Specifically he started the LaunchPad program in 2017 to give minority-owned micro-businesses access to BWI Marshall’s strong retail and food markets. Furthermore, founded in 2015, the BWI Marshall Youth Initiative has brought more than 100 Baltimore City young people into potential careers in aviation and transportation.
Recognized widely for his achievements, Smith has won the Maryland Washington Minority Companies Association’s “Best State Executive for Minority Business Enterprise” in 2022 and the “Leon C. Watkins Guardian Award” by Airports Council International/North America in 2020 among others.
Jan Lennon, who will now serve as Executive Deputy General Manager, brings over 25 years of experience in airport security management to her new role. She will closely work with Smith to supervise every aspect of the airport’s infrastructure, finance, strategic planning, and operations.
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Atlanta expects more improvements to Hartsfield-Jackson’s service quality and operational efficiency as it looks ahead to this new chapter under Smith’s direction, therefore supporting its centrality in the world aviation scene.
