The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority today announced the appointment of Atif Saeed, A.A.E., IAP, as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective March 2026. Saeed succeeds Kimberly J. Becker, who is retiring after a distinguished 40-year aviation career.
Saeed currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation, where he oversees the planning, development, and operation of Philadelphia International Airport and Northeast Philadelphia Airport. He has held progressively more responsible leadership roles at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
“The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority is excited to welcome Atif Saeed as our next President and CEO,” said Gil Cabrera, Airport Authority Board of Directors Chair. “We also extend our deep gratitude to Kim Becker for her steady, visionary leadership and commitment to excellence. We look forward to building on that strong foundation under Mr. Saeed’s leadership.”
“I am honored to be selected to serve as the next President and CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority,” Saeed said. “San Diego International Airport plays a vital role in the region’s economy, and I am impressed by the organization’s commitment to customer service and deep connection to the community. I look forward to working closely with the Board, employees, stakeholders, and the community to advance the Airport Authority’s mission.”
Saeed joins the Airport Authority after a months-long nationwide search. It is a pivotal time for the organization, as San Diego International Airport continues to advance major capital improvement projects and long-term strategic initiatives designed to enhance the customer experience and strengthen regional economic impact.
Saeed holds an MBA from Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business and has completed executive education programs at Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He is an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) and International Airport Professional (IAP), and currently serves in multiple industry leadership roles, including on the Boards of Directors for the American Association of Airport Executives and Airport Council International (ACI) – North America, and in global leadership roles with ACI World.
For more information on the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, please visit www.san.org.
**For headshot of Atif Saeed, please click here.**
ABOUT SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SAN)
Owned and operated by San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (Airport Authority), San Diego International Airport (SAN) is one of the busiest single-runway commercial service airports in the world and the third-busiest airport in California. SAN serves 11 nonstop international routes to Europe, South America and Asia, and contributes nearly $12 billion in economic activity for the San Diego region. In September 2025, the Airport Authority opened the first phase of the new Terminal 1, a larger and more efficient facility that has greatly enhanced the customer experience at SAN. Once the New T1 project is complete in 2028, it will feature a total of 30 gates and will have generated more than $4.5 billion for San Diego’s economy and created more than 25,000 jobs, paying a total of $2 billion in wages to local workers. For more information about SAN, please visit san.org.
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