2022 World Affairs Council of the Year
Network of Independent World Affairs Councils of America
Presents
DOUGLAS KREULEN
Doug Kreulen joined the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority in 2012 and was
named president & Chief Executive Officer in December 2017. He previously served as
Chief Operating Officer, where he oversaw Operations, Facilities Maintenance, Public
Safety and Development and Engineering departments for both Nashville International and John C. Tune airports.
Before joining MNAA, Kreulen served four years as director of Operations for The Huntsville International Airport, during which time the airport received the highly regarded FAA Southern Region Airport Mark of Distinction Award and FAA Air Carrier Airport Safety Award. Prior to beginning his career in the commercial aviation sector, Kreulen served in the United States Air Force for 27 years, earning the rank of Colonel.
During his service, he held prominent command and staff leadership positions including:
– Chief of Staff for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.;
– Vice Commander of the 374 th Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base in Japan, with responsibility for 11,000 civilian and military personnel involved with operations, support, maintenance and medical;
– Commander of the 314 th Operations Group at Little Rock Air Force Base, with responsibilities for 2,000 military personnel and a fleet of 50 C-130s;
– Chief of the Readiness Division for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington D.C., charged with evaluating the armed services ability to carry out the National Military Strategy; and
– Commander of the 37 th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Kreulen is a decorated veteran, earning the Bronze Star (Kosovo), Legion of Merit, Defense Superior Service Medal (National Military Strategy and Service on Joint Staff Crisis Action Team following events of 11 September 2001); Air Medal and Meritorious Service Medal (Bosnia-Herzegovina). An Accredited Airport Executive (AAE), Kreulen is a graduate of National War College with a Master of Science in National Security Strategy, Troy University with a Master of Science in Personnel Management and Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Laboratory Technology.
KARL DEAN
Karl Dean served as the sixth Mayor of Nashville and Davidson County. He was elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011. Dean first held public office when he was elected as Nashville’s Public Defender in 1990. He was re-elected in 1994 and 1998. He served as Metro Law Director from 1999 to January 2007, when he resigned to run for the office of mayor. Karl Dean has taught at Vanderbilt Law School, Belmont University, and Boston University.
OUR MISSION:
As a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, we aim to promote international awareness, understanding, and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.
OUR VISION:
To create a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.