Deven Judd has served the Aviation industry for 16 years. Deven is the Concessions Development Manager for the City of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. His responsibilities include overseeing contract negotiations and administration, developing new concessions opportunities, space planning, and serving as the Project Manager for the City’s solicitation process. Deven is a member of the team that launched and managed the largest procurement in North American airport history representing 152 food & beverage and retail locations that focused on “best-in-class” customer service, opening-day fresh standards, innovative services and a sense of place.
Mr. Judd began his career in 1998 with the Jacksonville Aviation Authority as a Properties & Business Development Specialist. Two of his accomplishments included leasing 12 aircraft hangars, office & support facilities totaling one-million plus s.f. at the former Naval Air Station Cecil Field and negotiating the contract that brought JetBlue Airways to Jacksonville. After eight years with the Authority, Mr. Judd joined the aviation planning & implementation firm Jacobsen/Daniels Associates as a Project Consultant. Mr. Judd managed multiple projects ranging from $30-300K in budget and contributed to generating an average of $2.2M/year in sales. Some of his projects were the 2011 Strategic Management Plan for Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport and the 2009 Hazard Mitigation Plan for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Deven was also on the team that completed the 2008 Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Master Plan
Mr. Judd received his B.S. in Aviation Management from Hampton University, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of North Florida, and Leadership Certification from the Florida Institute of Government. As a testament to his drive and determination, over a 21-month period from August 2012 through April 2014 while working at Hartsfield-Jackson, Deven earned the Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.), Project Management Professional (PMP), and International Airport Professional (IAP) designations.
1) Why did you select aviation as a career?
From an early age, I was fascinated with the complexity and simplicity of how airports operated. I quickly realized that airports were cities within a city and required extensive coordination for proper management. As I started to meet different people in the industry, I gravitated towards airport management because it combined business, aviation, operations, and so many other aspects of other industries. The breadth of knowledge and business savvy required to become an executive director at an airport became romantic and then the ultimate career goal.
2) What advice from a mentor helped you the most in your career?
The most helpful advice I have received from a mentor is, “you may never be the smartest person in the room but you can be the most prepared person in the room.” The most prepared person will be viewed as one of the most valuable assets to the organization. Team members will look to you for answers and co-workers from across the organization will come to you for guidance.
3) What is the biggest challenge you see facing aviation today?
One of the biggest challenges facing aviation today deals with DBE/ACDBE Programs and potential impacts of funding shifts. Airport agencies receiving financial assistance from the FAA are required to establish goals for the participation of minority-owned, women-owned and disadvantaged business enterprises (M/W/DBEs). There is a statutory 10% goal/requirement for federally allocated funds. This includes airport funding from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and annual M/W/DBE contracting goals for concessions. The 10% goal/requirement is not included in airport funding received through federally authorized passenger facility charges (PFCs).
The President’s FY2015 budget includes cuts to the AIP in exchange for increasing the amount of PFCs. Cuts to the AIP ultimately equal cuts to M/W/DBE opportunities. Don’t get me wrong, I support increases to PFCs but airport infrastructure funding must continue to recognize the role of M/W/DBEs with the expansion of M/W/DBE goals/requirements to the PFC funding streams.
4) What advice would you give to others in the industry?
Over the past three years I have achieved several career goals that at one time seemed almost impossible to accomplish. I have begun to encourage my colleagues and peers to remember what their goals are and go for them. A co-worker and I have begun to work with the ATL Training Department to assist others with achieving the Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) designations. Aviation can be one of the most rewarding industries to work in and if I can help someone achieve their goals, then my accomplishments become more worthwhile to me and my family.
5) What are three things we don’t know about you?
Three things you don’t know about me are:
Before changing my major to Aviation Management, I was majoring in Chemistry with plans to become a pharmacist.
I have an almost complete collection of Star Wars movies, books, audiobooks and short stories that span the early days of the Star Wars expanded universe to the new Star Wars movie coming out in 2015.
For the past 14 years, I have participated in Fantasy Football and Baseball leagues with friends. I have won three Fantasy Baseball Championships in the past five y
