Gov. Ron DeSantis’ five appointees to Orlando’s aviation authority voted Wednesday to hire the governor’s transportation secretary, Kevin Thibault, to run Orlando International Airport.
“I stayed up late last night thinking and praying on this, ‘’ said Carson Good, chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and a governor’s appointee. “I did not get any direction on who to pick, by the way.”
Of the remaining two members of the authority, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings voted to hire the director of Seattle’s airport and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the Seattle airport director was his top pick but he would vote along with the majority as a show of unanimity.
Thibault has never run an airport but has years of transportation collaboration with Florida airports during his career in private and public positions. His formal hiring as chief executive officer to replace veteran Phil Brown hinges on the outcome of salary negotiations, though preliminary talks have occurred already.
“My style is management by walking around,” Thibault said during a public interview Wednesday with the seven members of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, or GOAA, stressing his focus on empowering staffers. “It’s also not to micromanage.”
Thibault was named Florida Department of Transportation secretary three years ago by DeSantis. As soon as Thibault was named as a finalist by the aviation authority a month ago, the governor’s communications director issued a statement praising Thibault.
“He has a proven track record of working across the aisle in all levels of government, and if selected, his expertise would be a great benefit to not just GOAA, but the entire central Florida community,” Taryn Fenske said in the statement.
Thibault spent part of his career in transportation engineering services for several states, including Florida, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Indiana and California. For more than 16 years and during three separate stints, he has worked for Florida’s transportation department.
Along with Thibault, the aviation authority interviewed airport leaders Lance Lyttle of Seattle, Mark Thorpe of Ontario, Calif., and Jacqueline Yaft of Austin, Texas.
All four candidates stressed similar themes of focusing on ensuring a smooth opening of Orlando International Airport’s new terminal later this year, on emphasizing the airport’s “Orlando Experience” brand and on establishing ties with the region’s industries and leaders.
“We are all aware that a large amount of energy is being used on the south terminal complex, a lot of energy both in resources and people,” Thibault said. “Despite the importance of this milestone, over 80 percent of passengers still have their Orlando Experience here in the north terminal.”
Speaking of the north, or the original terminal that has handled as many as 50 million passengers annually but is becoming outdated in key ways, Thibault said: “We have to keep this fresh, we have to keep this facility updated and need to work with brainstorming with the team to make sure that happens.”
Discussion following the candidate interviews was relatively brief.
“Secretary Thibault, I would say he is a proven leader in transportation,” said authority member Belinda Kirkegard. “He is also very charming – we saw it there at the podium – and interacting with him I think he is also very approachable. I highly value his management by walking-around style of leadership.”
Authority member Craig Mateer cited Thibault’s local and state relationships as one of several reasons for backing him as chief executive officer.
After four authority members who are governor appointees stated their backing of Thibault, Demings said he had a different preference.
“My top choice would be Mr. Lyttle,” Demings said. “I think he clearly demonstrated a familiarity with the industry.”
Demings, attending the meeting via telephone while at home recovering from COVID, said Lyttle is well trained, well experienced and would be “transformative” for the Orlando International Airport.
“Because of that, Mr. Lyttle is uniquely qualified to be the next CEO,” Demings said.
Dyer said all four candidates could run the airport but he was “blown away” by the extraordinary leadership qualities of Lyttle.
The last of the five governor appointees stating their CEO preference was Good.
“I, too, was blown away by Lance Lyttle,” said Good, who then described Thibault as fascinated with airports.
“He has a passion for the airport. I know he’s wanted to do this for a year or so but the governor did not want to let him go. So, I didn’t think it would happen.”
This story has been updated with additional comments from Thibault and authority members.
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