The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) Board of Commissioners at the December board meeting Dec. 13, unanimously voted to name Doug Kreulen president and CEO.
Formerly MNAA’s chief operating officer, Kreulen has served as acting, and later interim, president and CEO since July 2017.
“Nashville International Airport is the fastest growing airport of its size in the U.S., and having the right leadership at the top is imperative to our success,” said Bobby Joslin, MNAA Board of Commissioners chair. “Doug Kreulen has the skill set and experience that are needed at MNAA at this critical moment. An accomplished leader and project manager, Doug has the aviation, operations, strategic planning and overall command experience needed to guide Nashville’s airports through our major expansion and beyond. Today’s vote affirms the board’s confidence in Doug to lead MNAA as we embark on an exciting new era for our airports and the city we serve.”
Kreulen joined MNAA in 2012 and most recently served as interim President and CEO. Prior to this position, he served as Chief Operating Officer where he oversaw Operations, Facilities Maintenance, Public Safety and Development and Engineering departments for both Nashville International and John C. Tune airports.
Before joining MNAA, Kreulen served four years as Director of Operations for Huntsville International Airport, during which time the airport received the highly regarded FAA Southern Region Airport Mark of Distinction Award and FAA Air Carrier Airport Safety Award.
Prior to beginning his career in the commercial aviation sector, Kreulen served in the United States Air Force for 27 years, earning the rank of Colonel. During his service, he held prominent command and staff leadership positions including:
- Chief of Staff for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
- Vice Commander of the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base in Japan, with responsibility for 11,000 civilian and military personnel involved with operations, support, maintenance and medical
- Commander of the 314th Operations Group at Little Rock Air Force Base, with responsibilities for 2,000 military personnel and a fleet of 50 C-130s
- Chief of the Readiness Division for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington D.C., charged with evaluating the armed services ability to carry out the National Military Strategy
- Commander of the 37th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Kreulen has extensive flight experience in both rotary-wing (Blackhawks, among others) and fixed-wing (C-130, among others) military aircraft, with more than 4,500 hours of flight time. He is a veteran of combat/combat support missions in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.
Kreulen is a decorated veteran, earning the Bronze Star (Kosovo), Legion of Merit, Defense Superior Service Medal (National Military Strategy and Service on Joint Staff Crisis Action Team following events of 11 September 2001); Air Medal and Meritorious Service Medal (Bosnia-Herzegovina).
He is also an Accredited Airport Executive. Kreulen is a graduate of National War College with a Master of Science in National Security Strategy, Troy University with a Master of Science in Personnel Management and Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Laboratory Technology.
