listening to the thoughts of other leaders, regardless of their political position. I’m all about innovation and continually searching for technologies and new ideas at the edge of possibility. Cole: As an African American leader, what do you consider to be one of the most difficult obstacles you’ve faced? Washington: I grew up on the Southside of Chicago, in the Altgeld Gardens housing project. Early life was dangerous and were it not for my mother’s help I may not have made it to this point in my life. When I decided to enlist in the Army, my mom was concerned to learn that I was going to basic training in the South. We knew Emmit Till’s family, and she was sure that I would run into similar trouble. Wherever I’ve worked I’ve run into people who didn’t want to see a Black man succeed, much less be in charge. All these obstacles created a determination in me to not be timid in the face of hate and/or racism. It also instilled in me the ability to encourage myself amidst disappointment and challenges. My background has also instilled in me the importance of prayer. Cole: What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the transportation industry today, and how do you see DEN overcoming them? Washington: One of the biggest challenges the transportation industry faces is the need to attract and retain talented people – especially those from underserved communities. We’ve developed the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA) to provide career pathways for young people from our community to access rewarding careers in the aviation industry. Another challenge we face is that the pace of innovation continually challenges us to keep up. Just consider the ways air travel has changed in
Photo: McBoat Photography
the last decade. We used to have paper tickets that we purchased from an agent at a ticket counter. Now we use our smartphones to not only buy tickets but pass through security and arrange for meals on the airplane. We must keep up with technological acceleration and progress and that’s why CEEA is partnering with local universities and industry peers on research and innovation – offering DEN as a lab to test and implement new innovations. Cole: How clear is your vision for what the future of corporate responsibility should look like at DEN? Washington: My vision for DEN’s community responsibility is crystal clear. We will be thought leaders and early adopters in sustainability, EDIA, customer experience and many other areas of emphasis. We will be the “silicon valley of aviation”.
Cole: In what direction does DEN see itself going?
Washington: DEN’s passenger traffic is driving its success. We’re already the third busiest airport in North America and the sixth busiest in the world. And all projections show that trend continuing. We’ve begun Operation 2045 to reconfigure the airport to serve up to 125 million annual passengers by DEN’s 50th Anniversary in 2045. We’ve stated we want to be the greenest airport in the world and are already making amazing progress on that ambitious goal. Our CEEA, is establishing DEN as the most progressive airport operation in the world.
13 The Acumen
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