TAMPA, Fla. — Months after Tampa International Airport's current CEO Joe Lopano announced he would be retiring, the airport has found its next chief executive.
Michael Stephens, currently TPA's executive vice president and general counsel, will assume the role sometime after Lopano's last day in April 2025.
Stephens, 52, will be the first Black CEO in the airport's history and the fourth person in the role overall since the airport opened back in 1971.
When he assumes the role as CEO, he'll be in charge of more than 670 employees that manage and operate TPA and Peter O. Knight, Tampa Executive and Plant City airports, according to a release.
The decision was made official Tuesday after TPA's five-member board voted 4-1 for Stephens to assume the position. The airport says its leaders have been planning and discussing the next CEO for the last nine months, when Lopano's retirement announcement was made back in February.
“Tampa International Airport is a beloved institution and an industry icon, and I’m looking forward to leading our organization while building on an award-winning reputation of excellence,” Stephens said in a statement. “It will be an incredible honor to follow in Joe’s footsteps and lead some of the best talent in the business. I’m thankful to the Board and our community for this opportunity to build onto the TPA legacy.”
Stephens reportedly has close to 25 years of experience "managing complex legal, compliance, human resources, labor, and employment issues."
Stephens is also a U.S. Army veteran, serving on active duty as a captain and trial counsel in the Army's Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, according to the airport's release. During his service, he was also appointed as special assistant U.S. attorney and was an active duty air traffic controller in the U.S. Air Force.
Stephens was chosen out of four internal candidates, airport leaders said.
The airport's board says it will soon begin contract negotiations with Stephens before he assumes his role as TPA's CEO.
“I could not be more proud of Michael, who has truly been one of the most brilliant and well-rounded professionals I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with,” Lopano said in a statement. “I have no doubt, given his track record and ties to this community, that he will be able to not only lead this organization through any challenge, but take it to new heights as we enter the next era of aviation.”
For more information on Stephens and the decision, click or tap here.
