Turkia Awada Mullin is the new CEO of the Wayne County Airport Authority.
In her new role, she will be responsible for the strategic direction, management and administration of the authority, which governs Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) and Willow Run (YIP). Prior to her appointment, she was the assistant CEO and chief development officer for Wayne County.
“We have selected an outstanding CEO who will provide strong leadership and a dynamic vision for Metro and Willow Run Airports,” says Suzanne Hall, a WCAA board member who chaired the CEO search process. “Turkia Mullin definitely possesses the qualifications and leadership ability to give our airports a competitive edge over other North American airports. She will be very attentive and responsive to the needs of our airlines and tenants and will provide disciplined fiscal oversight of our operations.”
Hall said Mullin would focus on optimizing non-airline revenue through new business enterprises and operating structures.
“During our interview process, Turkia expressed a thorough understanding of how Metro can realign airport concessions and make airfield capital improvements to generate more revenue and better serve airport passengers and corporate clients,” Hall says. “More importantly, she identified strategic partners and funding sources that can help make this happen without significant investments by the airport.”
Mullin was a lawyer in private practice before joining Wayne County’s Corporation Counsel in 2003 as a principal attorney for real estate. She was named assistant chief executive officer in 2005 and added the duties of chief development officer in 2009.
She is a veteran of the U.S. Army; she received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Wayne State University and her juris doctor degree from the University of Detroit Mercy Law School.
Mullin will replace Genelle Allen, who has served as interim CEO for the past year.
“The board would like to thank Genelle Allen for her dedicated leadership as interim CEO during the past year,” said WCAA Board Chair Rene Pipis Axt. “Ms. Allen did an excellent job and we look forward to her future contributions as part of our management team.”
