The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority (JMAA) is pleased to announce the Board of Commissioners’ appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Rosa M. Beckett.
Ms. Beckett brings extensive background and experience within the aviation and transportation industry and is well-equipped to lead the organization toward a successful future for aviation in Jackson and for all Mississippi travelers and businesses. JMAA engaged ADK Consulting, the premiere aviation executive placement firm in the USA to conduct the search for JMAA’s next Chief Executive Officer, with over 30 applicants seeking the CEO position.
“I am excited to welcome Ms. Rosa M. Beckett to Jackson as the new CEO of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority. She is a talented and groundbreaking choice to move our airports to the next level of aviation in Mississippi and is well-suited to continue the impressive growth we have experienced these last few years,” said Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba.
Warren T. Herring, Chairman of the JMAA Board of Commissioners, stated “We are confident that Ms. Beckett possesses all the qualities necessary to have a very positive and professional impact on our organization and the entire Jackson/Capital region. “In the selection process, Vice Chair Sharon F. Bridges, Esq., Commissioners Rica Lewis-Payton, Rickey D. Jones, and I sought a candidate with an abundance of knowledge in the aviation industry, strong leadership skills, and the proven ability to take our airports into the future. Our two airports play vital roles in the economic development of central Mississippi, and we envision the progress and growth continuing for many years under the leadership of Ms. Beckett.”
“I am honored and thrilled to have been selected by the Board of Commissioners as the new CEO of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority. I look forward to working with the talented team at JMAA to continue driving growth, enhancing operational efficiency, and providing exceptional services to our valued passengers and partners,” said Ms. Beckett.
She comes to Jackson from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA), operating four (4) airports covering NE Florida and SE Georgia, after having served as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and other key roles. She brings over 22 years of broad experience in the aviation industry, including as CAO of Fraport USA, an airport leader in concessions at six (6) key cities in the U.S., delivering $500M in sales. Beckett has a proven track record of success in airport strategic planning and implementation, budget strategy, system assessment and change management, human resources and talent development, business intelligence and analytics, stakeholder and client relations, as well as aviation consulting.
Ms. Beckett is a graduate of the University of North Florida (MBA and MHRM) and the University of Florida (BS, Advertising and Business), has been active in numerous airport and transport industry organizations (ACI-NA, AMAC, AAAE, ICAO, COMTO), and has spoken globally on aviation issues. She holds the esteemed designations of International Airport Professional (IAP) designated by ICAO-ACI and is a Certified Member (CM) of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).
Added Chairman Herring, “On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, I want to sincerely thank Mr. John Means, Jr. for his dedication and leadership throughout his time as JMAA’s Interim CEO. During his tenure, JAN airport passenger traffic surpassed 1.2 million travelers in 2022, a number not seen in over a decade. His commitment to ensuring the success of our airports in the post-Covid era is appreciated, and we are grateful for his many contributions to our organization, our airports, and to metro Jackson. We look forward to his continued work toward our progress as we strive for JMAA excellence.”
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ABOUT JMAA
The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority (JMAA) operates two airports: Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) and Hawkins Field Airport (HKS). JAN is the busiest airport in Mississippi, situated in the Central part of the state and serving the Capital region of Jackson with over 3,000 acres of property. JAN has service to several of the world’s busiest global hubs and is home to the Mississippi Air National Guard 172nd Airlift Wing. HKS is a general aviation airport and is home to the Mississippi Army National Guard 185th Aviation Brigade.