Alumni spotlight

Kevin Thibault ‘85 named CEO for Greater Orlando Aviation Authority

UMass Dartmouth alum Kevin Thibault has been named CEO for Greater Orlando Aviation Authority: Orlando International (MCO) and Executive (ORL) Airports. As CEO, Thibault is responsible for the operation and management of both Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport. Orlando International Airport is the busiest airport in the State of Florida and is building for the future through a $4.13 billion Capital Improvement Program, which includes the new South Terminal C.

Prior to joining the Aviation Authority, he served as Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), where he served in various roles for more than 18 years, including coordinating the planning and development of a safe, viable, and balanced transportation system, project management, executive leadership and building partnerships to deliver the transportation needs of the state.

He has spent half of his professional career in the private sector providing transportation engineering services for a number of states, from as far west as California, through the New England states and the southeast, as well as several Canadian transportation entities.

Thibault earned his BS in civil engineering in 1985, and we recently had the opportunity to connect with him about his career path and experience as a student at UMass Dartmouth.

Kevin, please tell us what sparked your interest in the field of engineering.

I was shaped by the education and instructors provided by the college. I am a big proponent, and I have had the fortunate opportunity to receive excellent mentoring from instructors at Diman, BCC and UMassD."

Kevin Thibault ‘85

KT: “It really started with my initial education at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School. I had an initial aspiration to be an architect, and my parents encouraged me to attend Diman to gain instruction and experience in that field. At the time of my graduation, the architecture field was very challenging, especially in the New England region, so I followed the engineering path to pursue that career.”

I know your pathway to UMassD was from Diman to Bristol Community College to UMass Dartmouth. Can you describe the value of taking this path?

KT: “Coming from a vocational high school can normally be a challenge, particularly back then when the curriculum was not geared for college level coursework (especially in the math and science fields). Through consultation with guidance, they suggested the Bristol Community College to UMassD route to better acclimate me to that environment. I will note that there were several of us in the Drafting Program that pursued higher education after graduating from Diman, some via the path we discussed and others direct to the university. It is my understanding that all achieved their goals.”

How did attending UMass Dartmouth shape your career trajectory?

KT: “I was shaped by the education and instructors provided by the college. I am a big proponent, and I have had the fortunate opportunity to receive excellent mentoring from instructors at Diman, BCC and UMassD. All of them provided ‘life lessons’ that shaped my professional career, with the prominent mentor being the Civil Engineering Department Chair – Dr. Thomas Jackivicz. As I was considering my specialty in civil engineering, I actually had gravitated to environmental engineering partly because of Dr. Jackivicz, who engaged me in lab assignments and assisted me in my final years at UMassD. It was also Dr. Jackivicz who connected me to my first employer, Pare Engineering in Rhode Island, which led me into the transportation field. And the rest is history.

Were there any activities that you participated in during your time at UMassD that helped support your career success?

KT: “I was very active in the American Society of Civil Engineers chapter, and have kept my membership in the organization all these years. I am a proud Fellow of that organization! That connection allowed me to learn what others are doing in the transportation field, and more importantly led me to Florida. I responded to a career opportunity in Orlando, and moved here in 1988.”

With a passion for mentorship and building a diverse workforce for the future of Florida, Thibault has continued to expand his community outreach. His community involvement includes serving on the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council, UF Transportation Institute’s External Advisory Board, and USF Center for Urban Transportation Research. He also serves on the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Engineering.

285 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747

To learn more...

umassd.edu/engineering or call 508.999.8539

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 285 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747 508.999.8539 • umassd.edu/engineering