As reported bylocal newspaper The Denver Post, Mr Washington’s careeraccomplishments, including in both transportation and the UnitedStates military, stand out; however, it has also been noted that hehas no prior experience in the aviation sector.
Major responsibility for one of thecountry’s busiest airports
Denver International Airport, known locally asDIA, is one of the United States’ key aviation hubs, and thelargest airport in North America by land area. The role that MrWashington is bidding to take on is therefore a hugely influentialone in the aerospace sector.
Sure enough, Mr Washington brings to his candidacya prominent national profile from the wider transportation industry,and far-reaching connections – albeit, not from the aviation sectoritself.
The newspaper observed that recent airport leadersin Miami and Chicago had come from city administrative or legalbackgrounds.
However, both Mr Washington and the man whonominated him, Mayor Michael Hancock, have talked up the relevance ofhis almost 21-year career in public transportation management inDenver and Los Angeles, including as CEO at the RegionalTransportation District (RTD).
A track record that promises much for DIA
Most recently, the 63-year-old served for sixyears as the Los Angeles County Metropolitan TransportationAuthority, or LA Metro’s CEO, finishing his stint there thisspring. Before that, he was in the Army for over two decades, beforemoving on to RTD.
Mr Washington has said that his work experienceshave touched on multiple modes of transportation, including publictransit and highway improvements, as well as discussions aboutfreight movement and aviation. In 2020, he also ledthen-President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team for transportationissues.
He commented: “I interacted with the [FederalAviation Administration] and airports around the country inevaluating the state of the US Department of Transportation.”
Thenominee has also referred to his track record in launching largeconstruction projects at both RTD and LA Metro. This is potentiallyhighly relevant experience, given DIA’s ongoing $3.5 billioncapital program that has been subject to delays, scale-backs and costoverruns.
He said of the DIA initiatives: “The first thingis we’ve got to move… these projects forward. I think I bring [anoutside perspective], along with the ability to engage and understandaviation very quickly.”
If approved by the full council in its vote on12th July, Mr Washington would replace Kim Day, who will retire on16th July after 13 years in charge.
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