Atlanta Office to Host Government Affairs Breakfast Briefing Featuring Benjamin DeCosta, General Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Atlanta, GA
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Benjamin R. DeCosta assumed the leadership of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the World's busiest airport and economic engine for the entire southeast, as aviation general manager for the City of Atlanta - Department of Aviation in June of 1998. He has placed Airport customer service and security at the top of his list of priorities. Mr. DeCosta and his staff are committed to ensuring that passengers enjoy visiting Hartsfield-Jackson and have developed the mission statement, "to be the world's best airport by exceeding customer expectations." In fact, Airport passengers participating in a worldwide survey conducted by the International Air Transport Association ranked Hartsfield-Jackson number one in overall passenger satisfaction for large hub airports in 2002. In 1999, Mr. DeCosta and his staff completed the Airport's first Master Plan in 30 years. He is leading Hartsfield-Jackson's multi-billion-dollar expansion program, called the Hartsfield-Jackson Development Program (HJDP) – "Focus On the Future." Some of the major components of the HJDP include a new fifth runway and a new international terminal. Hartsfield-Jackson retained its title as the busiest airport in the world serving over 76 million passengers in 2002 as well. In the year 2000, Mr. DeCosta successfully oversaw the Y2K rollover and ensured operations at Hartsfield-Jackson were uninterrupted. Mr. DeCosta's staff has received numerous awards and national recognition in various areas including airfield safety. In fact, the Airport received the Federal Aviation Administration's top award for airfield operations safety in 2001. Prior to taking the position of Aviation General Manager at Hartsfield-Jackson, Mr. DeCosta worked for the Port Authority of New York and he served as the general manager of Newark International Airport. A native New Yorker, Ben DeCosta received his bachelor of arts degree at Queens College in Physics, before earning his Juris Doctor from New York Law School in 1975. In 1984, he participated in a program for senior executives in state and local government at the Kennedy School of Public Administration at Harvard University. Mr. DeCosta is an active member of the American Association of Airport Executives and he serves on the board of the prestigious Airports Council International – North America. To register, please click here. Online registration will be available until March 1, 2006. If you need to register after this time, please contact Lisa McKenley at lmckenley@mckennalong.com. |
Benjamin DeCosta – General Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport