UA Little Rock Alum Chris White Brings a Public-Service Mindset to Columbia Metropolitan Airport
When Chris White stepped into his new role as president and CEO of Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE), he saw more than your standard run of terminals and bustling travelers — he saw a community hub with the power to shape an entire region’s future.
“Airports are more than a place to start or end travel,” White said. “They are job creators, incubators of entrepreneurs, and quality-of-life multipliers within a community.”
White, who earned his master of public administration from UA Little Rock, said he was drawn to Columbia, South Carolina, for many of the same reasons he once chose Little Rock. Both are capital cities with strong educational, medical, and cultural institutions — and both are large enough to generate opportunity while still maintaining a sense of community. With major economic investments in the Columbia area, including the Scout Motors plant set to open in 2027, White sees CAE positioned to play a central role in the Midlands’ next chapter of growth.
“A thriving region needs strong connectivity,” he said. “Airports bring people, ideas, and products together. When the airport succeeds, the community succeeds.”
White joked that he has “jet fuel in my veins,” after working in aviation for more than 35 years in aviation, and through time has acquired both technical expertise and a public-service mindset to his leadership. His UA Little Rock education, he said, helped him understand the broader economic and human impact of infrastructure and public institutions.
“UA Little Rock expanded my perspective,” he said. “I learned more about leadership, economics, and the responsibility we have as public servants to improve the communities we serve.”
White’s long-term vision for CAE centers on making the airport a catalyst for regional growth, from attracting airlines and cargo operations to supporting aviation-related businesses that create hundreds of high-quality jobs.
“Success means full planes, thriving businesses, and an economy buzzing with opportunity,” he said.
That growth depends on people, he added. Throughout his career leading airports, White has seen firsthand how a dedicated team includes everyone – from public safety officers to maintenance crews to operations staff – to keep airports running safely and smoothly.
“An airport is just concrete and steel,” he said. “The heartbeat comes from the people who make the controlled chaos work every day.”
As a licensed pilot, White also brings a cockpit-level perspective to airport leadership, emphasizing safety, communication, and planning.
“Seeing an airport from the pilot’s seat changes how you think,” he said. “Perspective matters.”
White credits his time in Little Rock with shaping that perspective. From mentors and professors at UA Little Rock to leaders like former Mayor Mark Stodola, he said the relationships he built during graduate school still guide him today. He also reflected on the June 1, 1999 crash of American Airlines Flight 1420 at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport as a moment that reinforced the importance of safety and preparedness in aviation.
Looking ahead, White sees both challenges and opportunities across the aviation industry — from aging infrastructure and workforce shortages to emerging technologies like electric aircraft, sustainable fuels, and advanced cargo systems.
“The airports that embrace innovation and invest in training the next generation will have the brightest futures,” he said.
For UA Little Rock students and alumni considering careers in public administration or aviation, White offers simple advice: choose service.
“Whether you’re solving community problems or helping bring new jobs to a region, public service is deeply rewarding,” he said. “Airports give you a front-row seat to innovation and community impact. You go home every day knowing you made a difference.”