2020 Airport Business Top 40 Under 40: Matthew Parker A.C.E.

Matthew Parker said many different paths and experiences in his life led to his career in aviation. He initially planned to be a history teacher and studied secondary education, but found it wasn’t a good fit for him.

Now working in the airport environment affords him unlimited opportunities to keep learning.

“While there are many days that are similar, there is always something new to experience,” he said. “There are not too many careers where someone has the opportunity to go to work and have a completely different day than the previous day.”

Parker has been an airport operations and safety officer and has been associated with Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) for the past seven years.

With only essential personnel at the airport due to the pandemic, Parker has stepped up whenever and wherever he was needed to act in the best interest of airport management.

On many occasions Parker was the eyes and ears of the airport manager. He assisted with the creation of an emergency aircraft parking plan. He was integral in creating ever changing air carrier schedules so that the employees associated with terminal operations could staff accordingly. He assembled the online package required to be submitted to the FAA for its Part 139 inspection and he’s assembled the specifications for the re-striping of the airfield.

Parker is always looking to improve himself. Having finished his Bachelor’s degree and Advanced Airport Operations trainings, he is currently enrolled in a high level management improvement plan, all while having a very young family at home. He’s is an emerging leader and one who the airport places its trust and confidence

Parker said he wants airports to have a greater grasp and more opportunities to use technology in its operations. He also wants to see a greater effort to recruit younger talent.

“It seems that the aviation industry, airports particularly, are staffed by older people,” he said. “It is always nice to have some young energy and ideas transplanted into an organization.”