Employee Spotlight: Zachary Mills, Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor
As tens of thousands of passengers pass through Tampa International Airport each day, a dedicated team works tirelessly behind the scenes, watching and listening to ensure that airport operations run smoothly and that everyone stays safe.
Inside TPA’s Airport Operations Center, also known as the AOC, a group of public safety and operations professionals work in shifts, 24 hours a day, monitoring the Airport’s alarm systems, automated shuttles, and SkyConnect system. They manage communications for the entire airport, including taking 911 and non-emergency calls and dispatching the Airport’s Police, Fire, and Operations teams.
That’s where you’ll find Zachary Mills, one of TPA’s public safety dispatch supervisors, who typically works the evening shift, starting his day in the afternoon.
A Tampa native, Zach grew up in Apollo Beach and attended Armwood High School in Seffner. He went on to the University of South Florida, earning a bachelor's degree in information sciences with a focus on intelligence analysis.
“I always really liked to pay attention to detail, so I thought I would make a good investigator or a police officer,” said Mills.
While still in college, Zach got his career started early by taking a job with the Florida Highway Patrol in their Tampa dispatch center. It was a fast-paced world filled with nonstop excitement and life-saving urgency.
“On my first day, my mind was blown by all the calls and activity,” Zachary recalls. “I really fell in love with it.”
After three years with FHP, Zach made the move to Tampa International Airport, where he first learned the ins and outs of TPA as an AOC dispatcher for the Operations team. He has since transitioned to the public safety team, where he uses his experience and attention to detail to assist passengers and even engage in some detective work. He frequently helps passengers who have lost items, leveraging the airport's extensive camera network to help reunite them with their belongings.
“We have cameras everywhere, and sometimes I can trace back to find lost items. It’s rewarding to help people in distress,” said Mills, who has also been instrumental in solving more significant crimes like vehicle thefts.
“It’s a group effort to keep the airport safe,” he says.
Outside the high-stress world of the AOC, Zach is an avid nature enthusiast who loves hiking and kayaking. He has explored trails and waterways in some of the most beautiful locations around the globe, including Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Most of his hikes are day trips, lasting four to eight hours, often involving steady inclines or even rock climbing.
“There is something about being outside and not being on your phone all day or being around big cities. It’s really calming for me,” says Mills.
A fun fact about Zach: He has an extreme fear of heights, even though he is drawn to mountainous hikes with breathtaking views.
One of his most memorable hikes took place at Wilsons Promontory National Park in Australia, where he trekked through 70 to 80 kilometers of wilderness, enjoying the awe-inspiring beauty and vastness of the park.
While he enjoyed encountering wildlife along the way, he said, “I wouldn’t want to run into a bear or anything too dangerous. In Australia, thankfully, I didn’t run into any snakes or spiders—just a kangaroo!”
As for future hiking aspirations, the Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand is next on his list, a location he plans to visit before the end of the year. The hike is renowned for its volcanic landscapes and was famously used as a filming location for “The Lord of the Rings.”
In addition to hiking, Zach also enjoys kayaking and often spends weekends exploring Florida’s beautiful springs and rivers. Recently, he also took up running and can often be found on the downtown Tampa Riverwalk, where he tries to run at least two to three times a week. He has participated twice in TPA’s annual 5K on the Runway and hopes to work his way up to running a marathon one day.
Back at work, Zach remains dedicated to ensuring the safety of everyone who passes through TPA’s terminals.
“My mission every day is to ensure a safe environment for officers, employees, and passengers.”
And just like on the hiking trail, Zach encourages passengers traveling through Tampa International Airport to pay attention to their surroundings and speak up if they see something that doesn’t look right.
“If you see something, say something,” he advises. “Even if it seems silly or ridiculous, if something doesn’t seem right, we’d rather be on the safe side and check it out than have no idea something is going on.”