Airport Experience® News - Leadership Issue 2025

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DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR SMALL-HUB AIRPORTS

A GUIDING FORCE Industry Colleague’s Say Miller’s Encouragement And Support Is Inspiring

BY SARAH BELING

From supporting growth through education to paving the way for leadership opportunities, Perry Miller is positioning Richmond International Airport (RIC) for future growth, while at the same time giving back to the broader airport industry. Here’s what a few colleagues had to say:

BASIL O. DOSUNMU , CFO, CAPITAL REGION AIRPORT COMMISSION: “Perry is a dynamic and transformative leader who drives growth and inspires excellence across all levels of the organization. One example

of his impactful leadership is when he encouraged me to pursue an Executive MBA focused on leadership development. He saw it as an investment not just in my personal growth, but in the strength of our airport leadership team. I’m proud to share that I completed the first year of the program five months ago.”

CHARLES MACFARLANE, CHAIR OF THE CAPITAL REGION AIRPORT COMMISSION BOARD: “As chair of the Capital Region Airport Commission, I have had the privilege of working closely with Perry as he and his staff have worked collaboratively and tirelessly

to accomplish RIC’s mission. Since arriving in Richmond from Houston in 2019, Perry has empowered his staff while creating a teamwork environment that strives every day to deliver innovative, respectful and customer-focused exceptional experiences for residents and visitors to the Richmond Region. Perry’s enterprise wide, shared-goals approach has played a significant role in the recent successful operating and financial performance of the airport, bringing RIC closer to medium hub status and positioning RIC and the Richmond region for a bright future. And, his focus on teamwork, safety, and integrity has been recognized by his peers and the aviation community as he has also served as chair of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and serves on the board of the Airports Council International—North America. The Capital Region Airport Commission is fortunate to have Perry as the leader of the RIC team and we are certainly proud that his efforts on behalf of RIC and the industry have been so appropriately and thoughtfully recognized by Airport Experience News .”

UDAY NETHULA, CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER, CAPITAL REGION AIRPORT COMMISSION: “We are immensely proud of Dr. Miller for being recognized as Airport Experience News ’ Director of the Year. This honor is a testament to his visionary leadership, unwavering commitment and relentless pursuit of excellence. Under his guidance, we not only transformed the culture of our airport but also built an environment where people

and performance thrive together. His steadfast support for HR has empowered us to drive meaningful change, elevate employee experience, and align our people strategy with business success. This award is richly deserved and reflects the extraordinary impact he continues to make across our organization and the industry.”

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AX NEWS DECEMBER 2025 / JANUARY 2026