The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board of Directors select Michael Stephens '96 as the Airport’s next CEO

The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board of Directors voted earlier this month to select TPA Executive Vice President and General Counsel Michael Stephens '96 as the Airport’s next Chief Executive Officer. Stephens will be the fourth CEO and first Black Chief Executive in the Airport’s history.

The selection, which became official after nine months of planning and discussion and a 4-1 vote among the five-member Board, will allow the Authority to engage in contract negotiations with 52-year-old Stephens to put him in charge of more than 670 employees that manage and operate TPA and Peter O. Knight, Tampa Executive and Plant City airports. He will also guide important decisions about TPA’s future, including growth beyond Airside D, new technology and advancements in the industry, and financial and environmental sustainability.

“Tampa International Airport is a beloved institution and an industry icon, and I’m looking forward to leading our organization while building on an award-winning reputation of excellence,” Stephens said. “It will be an incredible honor to follow in Joe’s footsteps and lead some of the best talent in the business. I’m thankful to the Board and our community for this opportunity to build onto the TPA legacy.”

As General Counsel, Michael Stephens has been responsible for providing legal opinions and advice to the CEO and Board Members on a wide variety of legal matters related to all aspects of the Aviation Authority. He is also the Executive Vice President for Information Technology Services, Human Resources, Government and Community Relations, Risk Management and Business Diversity.

Stephens has nearly 25 years of experience managing complex legal, compliance, human resources, labor, and employment issues. He is a veteran who served on active duty as a Captain and Trial Counsel in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, where he was also appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. He also served on active duty as an Air Traffic Controller in the U.S. Air Force.

Stephens graduated from Morehouse with a B.A. in International Relations. He holds a Juris Doctor from the Washington College of Law at American University as well as a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the School of International Service at American University. He is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.