2025 Airport Business Top 40 Under 40: Lindsey Brithinee, C.M.

• Hometown: Taylor, MI
• Alma Mater: Western Michigan University
• What’s one airport that inspires you? DTW

Lindsey Brithinee has built her career around one of the most mission-critical areas of aviation: security. As Airport Security Manager at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), she oversees access control, credentialing, and compliance with TSA regulations—responsibilities that directly protect passengers, employees, and infrastructure.

Her achievements at SDF highlight both technical expertise and leadership. Lindsey was instrumental in the integration of a new physical access control system that added 500 cameras and 500 doors across the airport, modernizing surveillance and strengthening overall safety. She created and now oversees the airport’s Aviation Worker Screening Program and led the implementation of a new Identity Management System serving more than 3,000 badgeholders. Together, these initiatives have streamlined security operations, increased accountability, and improved the airport’s audit readiness.

Her approach balances regulatory rigor with a people-first mindset. Drawing on her background in hospitality and customer service, Lindsey demonstrates that security and positive passenger experiences can work hand in hand. Her leadership has been especially visible during high-profile events such as the Kentucky Derby, where she has coordinated seamless security operations under intense scrutiny.

Beyond her work at SDF, Lindsey plays an active role in shaping the industry’s future. She serves on the AAAE Transportation Security Services Committee and the AAAE Young Professionals Committee, currently holding a second term on its Leadership Committee. She has also helped organize the AAAE Emerging Leaders Conference for the past four years.

Through both her local impact and national engagement, Brithinee has established herself as a trusted, forward-thinking voice in airport security.