Rick Tucker, CEO of the international transportation and business hub which includes Huntsville International Airport (HSV), International Intermodal Center and Jetplex Industrial Park, will retire on December 31. Tucker was AXN’s Director of the Year in the small airports division in 2021.
Luther “Butch” Roberts, will assume the role of CEO for the Port of Huntsville starting July 1. Roberts has served as COO and deputy director since 1996.
Tucker will continue to serve the organization as CEO Emeritus during the transition of leadership and in a part time capacity during his retirement, focusing on strategic regional, state and national opportunities to strengthen the Port’s position as a leader in the global transportation, logistics and international trade arena.
“When I started at the airport 44 years ago I could not have imagined spending my entire career with just one employer,” Tucker said. “However, because we had a very small staff I was given some unique opportunities early in my career to expand and grow as an individual as the organization and community grew.” He credited the success of Port of Huntsville during his tenure to “talented staff” and “visionary board members,” as well as “blessings of God.”
Tucker’s leadership “has grown the organization to superlative reputation and provided powerful economic impact in the community,” said Mark McDaniel, Board Chairman of the Port of Huntsville. “Under his tenure, the airport, cargo operations and industrial park have expanded beyond our hopes and dreams to bring jobs and prosperity to Huntsville and to indelibly link the Port of Huntsville to the world.”
McDaniel said Roberts has been Tucker’s “right hand” and said the board has the “utmost confidence in his ability to carry forward the mission of the Port of Huntsville.”
“I look forward to continuing the work of implementing our master plan to grow the airport, intermodal center and industrial park to meet the needs of industry and commerce in our service area,” Roberts said. “We have already begun a new air cargo expansion and have applied for a license to land the DreamChaser commercial space vehicle here at HSV. With our upcoming terminal and concourse upgrades in the final planning stages, there is a lot to be excited about as we see air travel returning post-pandemic and our region’s economy prospering.”
