Michael Stephens takes the reins as new CEO of Tampa International Airport

After spending the past decade as Tampa International Airport’s General Counsel and Executive Vice President over various departments, Michael Stephens arrived to work Monday morning with a new title and an all-new role. In his first day on the job as the Airport’s newly appointed CEO, Stephens headed straight for the Main Terminal. 

“It’s where all the action happens,” said Stephens of his plans to spend time with the Airport's thousands of employees, including the nearly 700 who work for the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, which manages and operates TPA and the county's three general aviation airports. “The journey ahead is exciting and I couldn’t ask for a better team to be working alongside.”

After joining the Aviation Authority in 2015 as the organization's General Counsel, Stephens was responsible for providing legal opinions and advice to the CEO and Board Members on a wide variety of legal matters related to all aspects of the organization and Airport. He also served as Executive Vice President for Information Technology Services, Human Resources, Government and Community Relations, Risk Management and Business Diversity.

Stephens has big plans and high expectations with a vision to build on the Airport’s decades of success to take TPA to the next level. To do that, he plans to hit the ground running by focusing on developing and retaining a world-class team, elevating the passenger experience, identifying new revenue opportunities, deepening community and regional engagement and strengthening the Airport's position as a leader for innovation and industry engagement. 

“We will continue to raise the bar and show the world what makes Tampa International Airport truly exceptional.” 

Stephens is originally from Ohio but grew up in Daytona Beach, Fla., before moving to Tampa in 2006. He says he’s had a love for aviation for as long as he can remember but never imagined becoming the CEO of an airport. His first flight on a plane didn’t come until he was 18. 

“My grandparents always told me that if I put my mind to something and worked hard, I could accomplish anything.” 

The movie “Top Gun” inspired Stephens to join the Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller. 

“The first time I saw fighter planes up close on the flight line, it got into my system,” says Stephens. “From that moment on, I was hooked, and aviation has been a passion ever since.”

Now, as he sets forth to be TPA’s new CEO, he’s calling on his team to help continue the Airport’s legacy of greatness. 

“No one leads or achieves extraordinary things alone. It takes the entire team, united under one mission, driven by a desire to be the very best.”

Stephens is a member of the Florida Bar Association, the Association of Corporate Counsel, and is a graduate of Leadership Florida. Nationally, he has served on the Pace Center for Girls Board of Trustees and Airport Council International’s Legal Steering Committee. He is a recognized expert in cybersecurity and data privacy and has testified twice before Congress on cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection.

A graduate of Morehouse College, Stephens holds a Juris Doctor from the Washington College of Law at American University as well as a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the School of International Service at American University. He is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.