2025 Airport Business Top 40 Under 40: Andrew Edgar

• Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
• Alma Mater: Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
• What’s one airport that inspires you? Every airport is an inspiration.

Andrew Edgar has built a career defined by safety, collaboration, and leadership at both the airport and federal levels. What began with a single flight over the Mississippi River grew into a passion that carried him from piloting skydiving operations to managing airport safety programs and ultimately to his current role as Lead Airport Certification Safety Inspector for the FAA’s Central Region.

Edgar’s career path includes operational leadership at Fort Worth Meacham International Airport and Dallas Love Field, where he rose to Airside Operations Supervisor overseeing a team of 14 and managing compliance with 14 CFR Part 139. His expertise in airport safety, emergency planning, and regulatory compliance positioned him as a trusted leader capable of guiding both technical operations and people.

Since joining the FAA, Edgar has advanced to lead the Airport Certification and Safety Program for the region, overseeing certificated airports across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. He has played a pivotal role in integrating emerging technologies into the national airspace system, serving as a regional point of contact for drones and autonomous vehicle operations. He is also recognized as an FAA Regional Safety Culture Ambassador, advocating for continuous improvement and accountability across stakeholders.

For Edgar, the most rewarding part of his role is the daily collaboration it requires. “I enjoy the collaboration I get to be a part of on a daily basis with internal and external stakeholders, knowing we are advancing the safety of the National Airspace System,” he said. That commitment continues to define his leadership and mentorship throughout the industry.