Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport and Hawkins Field Airport has a new Chief Executive Officer.

Experienced aviation leader Rosa M. Beckett will be responsible for steering a successful future for aviation in Jackson and all Mississippi travellers and business, the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority (JMAA) Board of Commissioners said in a statement.

Beckett joins from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA), operating four airports covering north east Florida and south east Georgia, where she served as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). She also spent time as CAO of Fraport USA.

Beckett has a proven track record of success in airport strategic planning and implementation, budget strategy, assessment and change management, human resources, talent development, business intelligence and analytics, consulting and stakeholder relations, the statement continued.

A graduate of the University of North Florida and the University of Florida, Beckett has been involved in a number of air transport organisations, including ACI-NA, AMAC, AAAE, ICAO and COMTO.

JMAA engaged ADK Consulting to recruit for the organisation’s next CEO, with more than 30 applicants for the post.

Warren T. Herring, Chairman of the JMAA Board of Commissioners, stated: “We are confident that Ms. Beckett possesses all the qualities necessary to have a very positive and professional impact on our organisation and the entire Jackson/Capital region.

“In the selection process, Vice Chair Sharon F. Bridges, Esq., Commissioners Rica Lewis-Payton, Rickey D. Jones, and I sought a candidate with an abundance of knowledge in the aviation industry, strong leadership skills, and the proven ability to take our airports into the future.

“Our two airports play vital roles in the economic development of central Mississippi, and we envision the progress and growth continuing for many years under the leadership of Ms. Beckett.

Beckett added: “I am honoured and thrilled to have been selected by the Board of Commissioners as the new CEO of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority. I look forward to working with the talented team at JMAA to continue driving growth, enhancing operational efficiency, and providing exceptional services to our valued passengers and partners.”