In 2023, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) was the busiest airport on the planet with more than 104 million passengers, according to Airports Council International.
Managing an airport with that volume requires a person with experience in a variety of disciplines. Since July 2024, that person has been Jan Lennon.
Lennon earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a concentration in pre-law from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in 1988. As interim airport general manager, she has a multitude of responsibilities.
“All the critical information comes to me,” Lennon said. “I have to have knowledge about everything.”
That’s not easy. ATL spans 4,700 acres, is home to 63,000 employees—making it Georgia's largest employer—and features 192 gates.
Airports are highly regulated entities and Lennon spends at least part of each day working with government regulators. The Transportation Safety Administration at ATL tests its systems once a year. The Federal Aviation Administration conducts inspections and audits to make sure runways, lighting and other elements meet safety standards.
“There is no room for error,” Lennon said.
Airports produce a lot of data, both in real-time and predictive.
“Integration is a challenge,” Lennon said. “We work with technology to get us even better at integrating data.”
In addition, ATL works to improve communications to about 300,000 people who pass through the airport every day, coordinating with the operations, security, crisis management, etc.
“When people arrive at the airport, they are concerned with checking their bags and getting to their gate,” Lennon said. “They don’t understand what’s happening behind the scenes; the train systems, the logistics of a plane taking off, coordination with the control tower, what happens when your luggage goes through the baggage system and TSA checks.”
From Managing Jails to Leading an Airport
After earning a master’s degree in criminal justice from Coppin State University, Lennon worked for a few years as paralegal and legal analyst before moving into the corrections field and managing jails in Virginia.
In 2002, not long after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Lennon joined ATL as deputy director of security.
“This was when TSA was birthed, after 9/11,” Lennon said. “Security became more professionalized, and my background in security and emergency management made me a suitable candidate.”
Over the years she worked her way up to director of security, then deputy general manager of operations before being appointed to the top spot.
While Lennon has earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, she is also a fan of learning by doing. For example, during her NCCU pre-law courses, students would roleplay court cases.
“It wasn’t just about reading the curriculum and answering questions on a test,” Lennon said. “Writing briefs, developing strategy – there was no one babysitting you.”
Advice for Graduates
For graduates who want to break into the field of airport administration, Lennon suggests:
- Never compromise your integrity under any circumstance.
- Broaden your exposure through internships; real-world experience is irreplaceable.
- Seek out mentors, including life and career coaches.
- Cultivate essential soft skills, such as flexibility, critical thinking, etc.
- Always be prepared, as opportunities do not schedule appointments.