South Fulton Today

Mayor Andre Dickens has announced the appointment of Ricky Smith as the new General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, effective April 2, 2025. Smith will take over from Jan Lennon, who has been serving as Interim Airport General Manager and will now move to an Executive Deputy General Manager role.

Mayor Dickens stated, “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.” He also expressed gratitude towards Jan Lennon for her service during the search process.

Ricky Smith expressed his enthusiasm about his new role, saying, “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.”

Smith brings over three decades of aviation management experience from his previous roles in Baltimore and Cleveland. At Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA), he was responsible for managing Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport among others. Under his leadership, BWI Marshall achieved five consecutive record-setting years for passenger numbers and earned accolades such as "Best Airport in North America for Customer Service" from Airports Council International.

His initiatives included launching programs like LaunchPad to support minority-owned businesses at BWI Marshall and a youth initiative aimed at introducing Baltimore City youth to careers in aviation. His work has garnered numerous awards including ‘Best State Executive for Minority Business Enterprise’ by Maryland Washington Minority Companies Association (2022) and several other recognitions throughout his career.

Jan Lennon's promotion to Executive Deputy General Manager will see her working closely with Smith on various operational aspects of Hartsfield-Jackson. With over 25 years of experience, particularly in airport security management, she is well-equipped for her new responsibilities.