Chellie Cameron named Chief Operating Officer at Philadelphia International Airport

Chellie Cameron, an aviation management executive, has been appointed to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), effective immediately. Ms. Cameron will report to Airport CEO Mark Gale and be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations including facility operations and maintenance, information technology, asset management and planning, engineering, security, finance and budget, property and concession management, human resources, contracts and procurement, and the disadvantaged business enterprises program.

Ms. Cameron has served as Deputy Director of Aviation, Finance & Administration at the Airport since 2011. In this position, she has led key financial and strategic initiatives. These efforts include working with the CEO to successfully negotiate a 2-year Airport-Airline Use & Lease Agreement extension that included approval for $735 million of critical new capital projects; leading the development of a new enterprise asset management system which will provide enhanced customer service and improvements to the long-term sustainability of facilities; and expanding community outreach campaigns to facilitate increased participation of disadvantaged-, minority- and women-owned business participation at PHL.

“I am delighted to have Chellie stepping into the COO role,” Mr. Gale said. “Over the last three years, she has proven herself as a strong leader and consummate aviation professional. With the airline industry investing billions of dollars in airport improvements across the country, increasing our capacity to collaborate with our airline partners on both short-medium and long-term goals is smart for PHL, and should yield positive results.”

More than 30 million domestic and international travelers and 419,000 tons of cargo pass through PHL each year. It is the 10^th busiest airport in the nation and 15^th in the world in terms of aircraft arrivals and departures with the new American Airlines as the dominant carrier. As the region’s gateway to the global marketplace, the Airport is a major economic driver.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as PHL’s Chief Operating Officer,” Ms. Cameron said. “We have a great team of aviation professionals at PHL working for the Airport, the airlines and partner agencies. I am excited to join forces with all of them and our CEO to deliver an exceptional customer experience to those who travel from, to and through PHL.”

Philadelphia Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Utilities Rina Cutler noted, “As the Airport has expanded and passenger volumes are expected to continue to increase, the opportunity to have a COO focused on daily operations and a CEO focused on vision and strategy is critical to the continued success of this valuable regional asset.”

Ms. Cameron came to PHL in 2011 after nearly 13 years with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), which is responsible for operating and maintaining Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and the Dulles Toll Road, as well as constructing a 23-mile extension to the existing Washington, DC Metrorail System. During her tenure at MWAA, Ms. Cameron oversaw numerous financial and business departments for the Headquarters and at both Airports.

Ms. Cameron’s experience also includes seven years as an active duty officer in the United States Air Force and one year as an Air Force civilian employee. During that time, Ms. Cameron led various financial management, protocol and training offices. She rose to the rank of Captain while on active duty, and served at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama; Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; the Pentagon; and Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, DC.

Cameron, 46, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a special concentration in economics and philosophy from the University of Notre Dame and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Auburn University at Montgomery. She is a Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealths of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and a member of the American Association of Airport Executives and the Government Financial Officers Association. She is the Vice Chair of the Finance Committee for Airports Council International (ACI) – North America, and a member of ACI World’s Economics Committee. She also serves on the Board of Directors for LEADERSHIP Philadelphia and the Board of Trustees for Angel Flight East.