Mario Rodriguez

Mario Rodriguez, the Executive Director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority, is an award-winning, nationally recognized senior leader. Mario served on the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition Team. He was appointed by both President Obama's and President Trump's Administration to the United States Department of Transportation's Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection. He has been honored with a United States Congressional Recognition, conferred by Congressman André Carson, in 2019. He is the recipient of one of the State of Indiana's highest honors, The Sagamore of the Wabash, conferred by Governor Eric Holcomb in 2018. During his tenure in California, he served as the president of the California Airports Council. He received a California Senate Resolution, conferred by Senator Ricardo Lara; a United States House of Representatives Recognition, conferred by Congressman Alan Lowenthal; a County of Los Angeles Commendation, conferred by Chairman Don Knabe; and a City of Long Beach Recognition, conferred by Mayor Dr. Robert Garcia.

He also received recognition, including a New Orleans City Council Proclamation, for his leadership in developing the flood protection system around the New Orleans International Airport before Hurricane Katrina and especially his leadership during the City's evacuation and recovery.

Under his leadership, the Authority has experienced record-breaking growth, announced major economic development projects, and has been recognized as the Best Airport in North America and the United States, year after year by prestigious organizations such as J.D. Power, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, TripAdvisor, and Airports Council International.

He is an active community leader and board member of numerous philanthropic and business organizations such as the Indianapolis and Indiana Chamber of Commerce, 2024 NBA All-Star Game, Visit Indy, The Indiana Sports Corporation, the Economic Club, the Indy 500 Festival Committee, and the new Indiana Destination Development Corp. Foundation. He is the former president of the Indiana Latino Institute (ILI) Board and a founder of the Hispanic Leadership Circle, whose mission is to advance Indiana's Latino communities. Under his leadership, the Institute expanded from serving one-hundred Latino students to over twenty-eight hundred in 2019 and increased the organization's net assets by over forty percent.

Rodriguez is an engineering graduate of the University of Miami (1987), attended the Harvard Kennedy School, and an accomplished author and speaker on issues impacting the transportation industry. For over 30 years, he has held leadership positions from Hong Kong to Indianapolis.