C.W. “Bill” Jennings passed away Oct. 11. He was 68.
Jennings served as the executive director of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority from 2000 to 2006. He previously held other positions within the airport authority such as deputy executive director, senior director of airports, director of operations and director of human resources. During his time with GOAA, he also oversaw the airport authority’s diversity programs, including the Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program and the local disadvantaged business programs.
In addition, Jennings was one of the founding members of the Airport Minority Advisory Council in 1983; the organization works to increase opportunities for women and minority businesses in the aviation industry.
In another project, Jennings started a program to give training and technical assistance to airport officials in developing countries such as Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, Mali, Kenya, Eritea, Morocco and Tunisia. Aviation officials from those countries were invited to Orlando International (MCO) for training on civil aviation issues, security, airfield and ramp safety, and crisis management.
“Not only does Orlando International Airport owe a great deal to Mr. Jennings’ leadership but so does the aviation industry,” says Phil Brown, executive director of the GOAA.” Mr. Jennings’ visionary programs to help developing nation’s aviation industries will leave a lasting legacy.”
Frank Kruppenbacher, chairman of the airport authority, adds: “The entire GOAA family joins Mr. Jennings’ family in mourning the loss of a giant in the aviation industry. Mr. Jennings was a steady hand, which helped guide our airport during the tragedy of 9/11, making us all more secure as a community and as an industry.”
Jennings was a member of Airports Council International-North America, the American Association of Airport Executives, the Florida Airports Council, the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. and the Bessie Coleman Foundation.
