Ginger Evans is the new commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation.
A spokeswoman from the department confirmed that Mayor Rahm Emanuel has appointed Evans, though she declined further comment, referring additional inquiries to the mayor’s office.
Evans joins the department from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, where she was vice president for engineering.
The story was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday. The mayor’s office did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Greg Principato, president of the National Association of State Aviation Officials, is familiar with Evans from when she was with Parsons Corp. and he was president and CEO of Airports Council International-North America. He calls Evans “fearless and smart” and says “she knows how to get stuff built.”
Evans’ appointment ends the lengthy search for a successor to Rosemarie Andolino, who announced plans to leave the aviation department last summer.
Evans joined MWAA in February 2014 and was charged with overseeing construction at Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) and Washington Dulles International (IAD), as well as construction of the Silver Line Metrorail project and maintenance of the Dulles Toll Road, among other responsibilities.
“Ginger is a highly regarded engineer,” MWAA President and CEO Jack Potter said at the time. “Much of her past work has been in the airport and aviation sector, including the design of the fourth runway at Dulles, and she also has worked on the Dulles Rail Project. We are fortunate to have someone of Ginger’s skill, experience and stature in the engineering and construction business at the airports authority.”
As she joins the Chicago Department of Aviation, which oversees both Chicago O’Hare International (ORD) and Midway (MDW), she’ll help steer the future of several infrastructure projects under the O’Hare Modernization Program. Several food and beverage projects are coming up for bid in the next few years as well, according to the Sun-Times.
Prior to joining MWAA, Evans was a senior vice president at engineering and construction firm Parsons Corp., and was also previously director of aviation at Denver International (DEN).
Chicago Alderman Michael Zalewski, chairman of the City Council’s Aviation Committee, told the Sun-Times that Evans was one of three finalists interviewed. The mayor’s first choice, Vancouver Airport official George Casey, demanded an annual salary in the $400,000-range, the newspaper reported. It is unclear what salary will be paid to Evans, although the published annual salary was listed at $186,576, the report said.
