2025 Airport Business Top 40 Under 40: Jacob Johnson, C.M.

• Hometown: Augusta GA 
• Alma Mater: Waldorf University 
• What’s one airport that inspires you? Hickory Regional Airport (HKY) 

Jacob Johnson represents the next generation of airport leadership, combining operational expertise, emergency response experience, and a deep commitment to community-focused aviation. His career began in Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, where he pushed himself through every available certification and discovered a passion for continuous learning. That dedication led him into airport operations, where he earned AAAE’s Certified Member designation along with five ACE certifications spanning operations, planning, environmental, finance, and safety management systems.

In 2022, Johnson took on his biggest challenge yet, stepping into the role of Airport Manager at Knox County Regional Airport in Maine at just 28 years old. Since then, he has modernized lease structures, improved compliance with FAA grant assurances, and strengthened the airport’s focus on sustainability. He also revived a long-stalled solar project, completing it ahead of an impending deadline—an achievement that delivered lasting benefits to both the airport and the broader community.

Johnson’s career is also marked by service. Awarded the Green Cross for lifesaving action while serving in ARFF, he carries those lessons of resilience and responsibility into his leadership today. For him, the most rewarding part of his role is making a tangible difference: “Airports aren’t just about airplanes; they’re about access, opportunities, and exciting careers. The decisions I make strengthen the airport and directly benefit the community as a whole.”

Focused on building a self-sufficient airport while keeping aviation accessible, Johnson is committed to ensuring small airports thrive as vital community assets and engines of opportunity.