An executive with 23 years of experience with the City of Phoenix has been named acting aviation director for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Frank Fairbanks, Phoenix city manager, recently appointed Danny Murphy to the position. Murphy will fill the seat formerly held by David Krietor, who has been promoted to deputy city manager.
Danny Murphy has been named aviation director for Phoenix Sky Harbor.
“Sky Harbor is in great hands,” said Krietor, who began his new position on June 19. “Danny has run two of the most complex departments in the City of Phoenix and has done an outstanding job. I’m confident that he will do the same at the Phoenix Aviation Department.”
Murphy recently served as acting director of Phoenix’s Water Services Department, with more than 1,400 employees, an operating budget of $210 million and a five-year capital improvement program of $1.8 billion. Prior to that, he was the chief information officer and director of Phoenix’s Information Technology Department, where he managed an operating budget of more than $37 million and a capital budget of more than $70 million.
Overseeing Phoenix Sky Harbor is similar to managing a city. The airport sees more than 200,000 visitors per day and employs 31,000.
“The airport is a complex operation, with many internal and external stakeholders,” said Fairbanks. “Danny is an outstanding manager who will excel in this environment.”
As acting aviation director for the City of Phoenix, Murphy now also oversees two general aviation airports, Phoenix Deer Valley and Phoenix Goodyear. Murphy joins a veteran staff at Phoenix Sky Harbor, including assistant aviation directors Carl Newman and Carol Clements. Newman has 26 years experience in the aviation industry, all at Phoenix Sky Harbor. Clements has been with the City of Phoenix for more than 22 years, including more than 11 years with the Phoenix Aviation Department.
“There’s a wealth of experience at Phoenix Sky Harbor,” said Murphy. “This is a dynamic team and I’m excited to be a part of it.”