A Letter from the Chair: Rebecca Hupp, A.A.E.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, IT HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS honor to serve as chair of the American Association of Airport Executives. When I began this journey, I spoke about leadership as service — about the  responsibility we share not only to manage airports, but to strengthen the communities and people who rely on them every day. Throughout my term, I aspired to exemplify that philosophy, approaching this role with a focus on service to others, building teams, giving back to our industry and supporting the collective success of our members. As my term comes to a close at the Annual Conference & Exposition in Los Angeles, I am filled with  gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside such an extraordinary community of professionals who embody that same spirit of service in everything they do.

Airports are complex systems. They are economic engines, gateways to opportunity and places where millions of personal stories unfold every day. But what has always stood out to me most about our industry is the people — professionals who care deeply about their mission and leaders who step forward to solve problems, support one another and push our industry forward.

This year, my focus as chair centered on several priorities that I believe will help position our airports — and our
association — for the future.

First, we continued advancing the conversation around regulatory reform. Aviation remains one of the most highly
regulated industries in the country, and while those regulations are essential to maintaining safety and security, they must also evolve alongside the pace of innovation. Airports are adapting to new technologies, elevated passenger expectations and new operational realities. Ensuring that federal policies remain practical, flexible and aligned with airport operations will continue to be essential as our industry evolves.

Closely tied to that effort is the ongoing challenge of infrastructure funding. The airport financing model that
has supported our national aviation system for decades is increasingly strained by growing demand, aging infrastructure, rising costs and changing airline business models. This year we continued the important work of identifying new approaches to  modernizing airport infrastructure funding so that airports can continue to improve and serve their communities. Sustained investment is critical not only to maintain our existing system,
but also to prepare the next generation of aviation infrastructure.

We also challenged ourselves to think differently about how we use information. Airports generate enormous amounts of data, yet much of it remains underutilized. One initiative I was  proud to help launch is the development of a proprietary AI-powered Airports Business Insights Tool for AAAE members. The goal is simple but powerful: provide airport leaders with stronger benchmarking, better analytics and deeper insights that support smarter decisions in an increasingly complex operating environment.

While innovation and infrastructure are essential, one of the initiatives closest to my heart focused on something even more fundamental — saving lives.

Through our “Be Ready in a Heartbeat” campaign, we began encouraging airports nationwide to strengthen their cardiac emergency preparedness. Airports bring together millions of travelers, employees and visitors every day, and that means cardiac emergencies will inevitably occur in our facilities. Ensuring that automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are accessible, clearly marked and supported by strong training and Cardiac Emergency Response Plans can mean the difference between tragedy and survival. Preparedness matters, and airports are uniquely positioned to lead in this effort.

Another priority this year was ensuring that we properly recognize the individuals who helped build our industry. Every airport professional can point to someone who mentored them, opened a door or helped shape their career. Yet, too often, the contributions of those individuals fade quietly. This year we began work toward creating a lasting and consistent way to recognize leaders whose dedication helped build the airport industry we serve today.

None of these efforts happen because of one individual. They happen because of the remarkable professionals who make up this association — airport employees, our partners and stakeholders, the tireless AAAE team and many others who dedicate themselves to serving their communities every day. I am also deeply grateful to my colleagues on the Executive Committee, Perry Miller, Ph.D., A.A.E., IAP, Rick Crider, A.A.E., Marshall Stevens, A.A.E., Patrick Wilson, A.A.E., and Kevin Bumen, A.A.E., for their collaboration, thoughtful counsel, integrity and steady commitment to serving this association and our industry. Throughout this year, I had the privilege of visiting with many of you across the country, and those conversations reinforced one of my core beliefs:
the strength of our industry lies in our willingness to share knowledge, support one another and move forward together.

Serving in this role also reminded me how fortunate I am to lead an incredible team at home. I want to thank the dedicated  professionals at the Boise Airport whose commitment to excellence makes our work possible every day. I am equally grateful to the City of Boise’s leadership for their support and  encouragement throughout this experience.

At my home airport in Boise, I’m reminded daily that  airports are ultimately about people — the travelers beginning  new journeys, the employees who keep operations running and the communities we serve. That perspective has shaped how I approached this role. The work we do reaches far beyond the  runways and terminals we manage. It connects families, supports economies and strengthens communities across our country.

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your chair. It has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my career, and I remain inspired by the dedication, ingenuity and leadership that define this association. The future will bring new challenges  and opportunities, but I am confident that together we will continue building airports — and an industry — that serve our communities with excellence, resilience and purpose.