Louisville Regional Airport Authority Announces Corporate Realignment

Louisville Regional Airport Authority Senior Leadership Team (left to right): Brenda Allen, Dan Mann, Brian Sinnwell and Darrell Watson
Click here to download photo of LRAA Senior Leadership Team.

New structure optimizes leadership, positions organization for future

The Louisville Regional Airport Authority recently announced a comprehensive streamlining of the organization to further prioritize the experience of users and partners at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) and Bowman Field (LOU). Effective July 1, 2021, the new structure reflects a more contemporary airport agency while optimizing efficiencies and capitalizing on staffing strengths.

“Since I came to Louisville more than three years ago, my goal has always been for us to be the best,” said Dan Mann, A.A.E., Executive Director of the Airport Authority. “These fundamental changes to our staffing structure directly support this mission. Plus, it reinforces the hard work of all our dedicated staff. The Airport Authority is comprised of a great group of individuals whose wide-ranging skills and talents continue to make us best in class.”

The realignment simplifies the business structure and processes across the organization with the creation of three organizational divisions – Administration, Experience and Operations – each lead by a new Senior Vice President role.

• Brenda Allen now serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Legal and Administrative Officer who oversees the Finance, Legal, Properties, Public Safety and Purchasing and Procurement Departments. Brenda has been with the Airport Authority since 2014 and has spent 23 years in the public sector and legal fields. Brenda was initially hired as Director of Legal Affairs and subsequently promoted to Vice President of Legal and Corporate Culture in 2018.
• Brian Sinnwell, C.M. was named Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer who oversees Bowman Field, Engineering, Information Technology, Maintenance, Noise Abatement and Operations. Joining in 2013 as the Airport Authority’s then-Deputy Executive Director of Planning and Engineering, Brian has nearly 30 years of experience in strategic planning, engineering and project management. Brian was previously promoted to Vice President of Planning and Facilities in 2018.
• Darrell Watson, A.A.E. is Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer with oversight of the Human Resources, Marketing and Air Service Development and Public Relations Departments. Darrell has 24 years of vast experience in the aviation industry. After joining the Airport Authority in 2008 as its then-Director of Properties, he was promoted in 2018 to Vice President of Strategy and Innovation.

“These individuals – Brenda, Brian and Darrell – are the right people to lead our organization as we continue delivering for our partners and users,” added Mann. “The wins and successes we’ve experienced in the last three years have been phenomenal for the Airport Authority. We welcomed new airlines, set a record for the number of nonstop destinations, experienced the best passenger traffic in SDF’s history, launched innovative projects and partnerships, started major upgrades to our terminals and airfields and did so all while being fiscally responsible – even amid a worldwide pandemic. We remain committed to continuing the momentum and this new structure with this senior leadership team better positions us not only in the industry, but within our community and region to simply put – be the best.”