Tony McMichael

Background

About Tony McMichael

Tony’s authenticity and drive are evident in every interaction—from his airport workplace to his undergraduate classroom, his social media feeds to his livestock farm. He is a voracious reader of business management and personal development books and is skilled at assessing a situation and adapting any plan—no matter how large or small—to accommodate stakeholder needs.Tony was named Director of Airside Development at Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) in 2021, with more than 20 years of combined experience in airport management from both the aviation consulting and airport ownership perspectives. The IAA includes six airfield facilities, including the Indianapolis International Airport, ranked one of the top 10 busiest airports in terms of air cargo and home to the second largest FedEx hub in the world. Tony’s responsibilities include securing funds, planning, and all aspects of project development for airside projects. A graduate of Indiana State University (ISU), Tony returned to ISU’s Aviation Management program as a part-time lecturer in 2019, teaching General Aviation Operations and Airport Operations. He is an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) through the American Association of Airport Executives is a leader in the use of advanced methodology, or preliminary engineering and programming, in planning for airport infrastructure improvements. This approach allows airport management professionals to build upon a review recommendation before determining design solutions. Though advanced methodology is not always the right course of action, its strategic use can help airport management professionals secure funding, minimize costs, gain stakeholder buy-in, and minimize risk in design and construction.