Inside the World's First Aviation Executive MBA: How CU Denver Is Reshaping Leadership for a Complex Industry

• Why CU Denver and Denver International Airport teamed up to create the world’s first Aviation Executive MBA—and why the timing is critical.

• How this program blends traditional MBA skills with sector-specific training, residencies at global airports, and cross-sector learning.

• Why ecosystem-wide thinking—spanning unions, supply chains, and NGOs—is key to creating next-generation aviation leaders.

• How real-world learning, including crisis management and regulatory training, prepares students to act on Monday what they learn on Friday.

• What lessons CU Denver learned designing a first-of-its-kind program—and how it's already shaping national and global aviation talent pipelines.

In this episode of the AviationPros Podcast, Airport Business Editor-in-Chief Joe Petrie sits down with David Chandler, Associate Dean of Executive Programs at the University of Colorado Denver, to discuss the world’s first Executive MBA designed specifically for the aviation ecosystem. Developed in partnership with Denver International Airport, this 18-month hybrid program is redefining leadership education for mid-career professionals across airports, airlines, infrastructure, and beyond.

With an advisory board that includes industry heavyweights like former United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz, longtime aviation journalist Scott McCartney, and Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington, the program is built from the ground up with insight from those who’ve shaped the industry. Chandler shares the story behind the program’s creation, the innovative curriculum structure—including immersive residencies at major airports—and how this new model could revolutionize aviation leadership development on a national and global scale.