OAK Director of Aviation Bryant Francis has accepted the position of director of port control for the city of Cleveland. He will oversee ports, the airport system and the 20-year master plan for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE).
Francis will assume the role from Interim Director Dennis Kramer, who has been the acting leader of the airport and ports since Robert Kennedy’s departure in July 2022. His first day will be May 24, 2023.
“I am delighted that we are bringing Bryant to Cleveland at this pivotal time for our airport system,” said Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. “He is a leader that we know can hit the ground running and jump start our $2 billion, 20-year master plan to transform Cleveland Hopkins into a world-class airport for our city and the region.”
An airport industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience in aviation management, Francis has worked across operations, air service development, marketing and communications, real estate, infrastructure, and general management of airports.
He currently serves as director of aviation for the Port of Oakland, where he leads a staff of more than 200 people responsible for the management of Oakland International Airport (OAK). Before joining the Port of Oakland, he was the Airport Director in Long Beach, Calif, and Director of Airports in Shreveport, La. He also served in executive capacities at airports in Boise, Detroit, and Palm Springs. He began his career in 1996 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
“I am thrilled to be selected to lead the team in Cleveland and I look forward to getting started on this new chapter of my career,” Francis said. “This is the jumping off point of a real transformation at Cleveland Hopkins and I am excited to lend my experience to shaping and stewarding such a landmark project.”
