Leadership

Michael L. Smith

Business Advisor

Michael L. Smith serves as business advisor to the Airport general manager. Prior to his appointment, he served as senior deputy general manager for Administration at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest and most efficient airport. He was responsible for the Department of Aviation’s day-to-day functions of Strategic Planning, Business Diversity, Government Affairs, Innovation, Sustainability, Human Resources, Law, Legislative & Policy, Marketing, Procurement, and Records Management.

Although Smith assumed his airport management role in 2014, he possesses more than two decades of municipal government experience as a longtime aviation law expert for the City of Atlanta. He served in two other capacities: private practitioner and senior assistant City attorney for 17 years early in his tenure. In these roles, he worked with all aspects of local government law, including litigation, contracts, property use and development, business, and employment issues. During Smith’s tenure as Atlanta’s lead counsel representing the Department of Aviation, while overseeing the operations of ATL, he prepared and negotiated terms of agreements related to the airlines and other airport tenants. He also helped prepare intergovernmental agreements with surrounding jurisdictions to implement airport projects such as the fifth runway, Runway 10-28.

Previously, Smith served as county attorney for Clayton County, Georgia, from 2005 to 2011. As lead attorney, he advised the board of commissioners, employees, and other elected officials on all legal matters of the county.

From 2000 to 2005, Smith joined Delta Air Lines as regional director for Corporate Real Estate, representing the airline’s interests across multiple cities. In this role, he oversaw matters related to airport budgets, rates, charges, and long-term expansion planning. He also chaired the Airport Airline Affairs Committee throughout the region, serving as the collective voice for all operating airlines in discussions with airport managers and authority boards.

Smith began his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Clarence Cooper, then judge in the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia. During law school, he interned for the late Honorable Horace T. Ward in the same court.

In addition to serving metro Atlanta citizens via law, Smith also maintained a strong commitment to community-based programs, such as the Fulton County Juvenile Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Board of Directors, Our Common Welfare Inc., a corporation that assists adults with AIDS and substance abuse, Caring for Others Inc., and the Community Empowerment Development Corporation. Smith is also a former president of the Metro Atlanta Chapter of Kiwanis. He presently serves on the board of the Atlanta Area of the Scouts of America.

A native Atlantan, Smith is a proud product of Atlanta Public Schools. He graduated from Duke University with a degree in political science and received his law degree from North Carolina Central University. Smith is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.