Director of Aviation
Kansas City Aviation Department, City of Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, MO, United States
Melissa Cooper was named director of aviation on November 3, 2023. Throughout Cooper’s career of more than 25 years, she has worked her way up through her field and in the many areas of the Aviation Department. Most recently, Cooper served as deputy director of aviation of property management and commercial development for the Kansas City Aviation Department from December 2021 through November 2023. Prior to this, she was manager of the Kansas City Wheeler Downtown Airport, field maintenance manager at Kansas City International Airport, deputy director of the Johnson County Airport Commission -- serving as the airport manager for New Century Air Center and Johnson County Executive Airport, and the assistant airport manager at Kansas City Wheeler Downtown Airport. Prior to her positions in airport management, Cooper worked as a contractor with the Federal Aviation Administration Central Region Runway Safety Program, as a system controller for Vanguard Airlines, and as a scheduler for Executive Beechcraft. Cooper holds her commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating. She has a M.S. degree in aviation safety and a B.S. degree in aviation technology, both from University of Central Missouri. Cooper previously served as chair of the Bombardier Safety Standdown Advisory Council, past president for the Great Lakes AAAE Chapter and the past-president of the Missouri Airport Managers Association.
Disclosure information not submitted.
New Single Terminal at Kansas City International Airport - Lessons Learned
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
1:30 PM – 1:45 PM MT