Ginger Evans

Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Commissioner Ginger S. Evans manages one of the world’s busiest airport systems comprised of O’Hare and Midway International Airports. In 2015, Chicago’s airports handled more than 98 million passengers, over one million operations and 1.7 million tons of cargo. Evans is also charged with implementing a capital plan for O’Hare — focused on customer service, supporting tenant requirements, increasing O’Hare’s already robust global connectivity, and increasing the airfield’s efficiency and capacity. O’Hare International is among the busiest airports in the world. In 2015, O’Hare handled more than 875,000 operations and 76 million passengers. More than 50 passenger carriers provide service to over 210 destinations across the globe. O’Hare is also a leader in the air cargo industry, serving more than 30 cargo airlines and ranking sixth in North America and 19th in the world by cargo tonnage. Midway International is the nation’s premier airport for point-to-point domestic service. There were more than 253,000 operations and 22 million passengers at Midway in 2015, the highest in the airport’s 88-year history. Six airlines at Midway provide service to 70 destinations. Evans has 30 years of aviation experience. She joined the CDA in June 2015 after serving as Vice President of Engineering for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) in Washington, D.C. She has overseen major projects at Reagan National and Dulles airports, as well as the new Silver Line Metrorail extension. Prior to her role as Vice President at MWAA, Evans worked in private consulting on major aviation projects in Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, as well as rail projects in New York and Washington. Prior to this, she served as Director of Aviation for Denver International Airport. Ms. Evans is the recipient of the American Society of Engineers President’s Medal; the McGraw-Hill Engineering News Record Award of Excellence; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pollution Prevention Award. She is a member of the National Academy of Construction and the International Women’s Forum.