Bryant L. Francis, C.M.Director of Airports at Cleveland Airport System

Bryant L. Francis, C.M., is originally from Harrisburg, PA.  He has been passionate about aviation for most of his life and attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Daytona Beach, Florida campus where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management.  His entire professional career has been spent at U.S. Airports.  He joined the City of Cleveland as Director of Port Control in late May, after a seven-year career as Director of Aviation for the Port of Oakland in Northern California. He has more than 27-years of experience in the aviation sector, including 12-years at the Director level.  Prior to his time in Oakland, he served as Airport Director for Long Beach Airport in Southern California and Director of Airports for the Shreveport Airport Authority in Louisiana. The first 15-years of his career were spent at airports in Atlanta, Georgia, Palm Springs, California, Detroit, Michigan, and Boise, Idaho.  Francis is active with several of the largest industry associations.  He is currently on the Board of Directors of Airports Council International - North America and is also on its U.S. Policy Council and its Board Finance Committee.  Further, he serves on the American Association of Airport Executives Policy Review Council as well as the Editorial Advisory Board for its Airport Magazine.  Additionally, he serves on the Airport Experience News Advisory Board as well as the Airport Leadership Collective for the Airport Minority Advisory Council and the Airport Cooperative Research Program’s Synthesis Oversight Panel.  Finally, he is a new member of the Aerozone Alliance Board of Directors which was established to create the conditions for an airport city to form around Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.  Bryant resides in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland.