J. Paul Malandrino is retiring after 17 years of service as airport manager of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, having guided the airport through the COVID pandemic and major construction efforts.
During Malandrino’s tenure, the airport’s annual passenger totals rose from 18 million to more than 25 million, setting new records. To ease terminal crowding, the airport team opened a new 14-gate concourse and two new security checkpoint buildings through the $1 billion Project Journey initiative.
For his leadership through challenging times, Malandrino was named 2021-22 Airport Manager of the Year by the Virginia Department of Aviation.
Malandrino has worked for nearly six decades in the aviation sector, assuming his position of Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority vice president and airport manager at Reagan National in July 2006.
Prior to taking the helm at Reagan National, Malandrino was the federal security director with the Transportation Security Administration at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport for four years. Before joining the TSA at BWI, he served six years as manager of the airport operations department at Dulles International Airport, and had a 30-year career in the U.S. military.
More than 130 attendees applauded Malandrino’s achievements and celebrated his legacy at a May 23 luncheon.
