Advisory Board Bio – Ted Kitchens

Theodore S. “Ted” Kitchens, A.A.E., a nationally recognized airport executive with more than
three decades of experience, is the Chief Operating Officer at the Greater Orlando Aviation
Authority, where he leads complex airport operations. He has held senior leadership roles at
George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL), and Manchester-Boston
Regional Airport (MHT), consistently delivering operational excellence, financial resilience,
and strategic growth.

Ted’s leadership has been instrumental in navigating airports through major crises, including
Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 pandemic. At MHT, he oversaw daily operations for a Part
139 commercial service airport and a Top 50 cargo facility, generating $750 million in annual
economic impact. He also implemented innovative air service strategies that attracted five
new airlines after a 17-year drought of no new air service at the airport, while increasing
operating revenue per enplanement by 25%.

Operationally, Ted has driven transformative improvements in airfield safety and efficiency,
eliminating all FAA-identified hotspots at MHT, the only airport in New England to achieve this
milestone. At IAH, his initiatives earned the FAA Southwest Region Airport Safety Award and
three consecutive zero-discrepancy Part 139 certification inspections. He also introduced
cuting-edge technologies, including some of the first automated security lanes in the
Western Hemisphere and Smart Restroom systems, positioning IAH as an industry innovator.

His expertise spans planning, design, construction, and financial optimization, including
restructuring $70 million in bonds to reduce annual debt service by $3 million and lowering
airline cost per enplanement by 25%. Under his guidance, airports have achieved prestigious
recognitions such as being named the Best Domestic Airport by Travel + Leisure.
Ted is widely respected for building high-performing teams, fostering stakeholder
relationships, and advancing airports as critical economic engines for their communities.