2022 World Affairs Council of the Year
Network of Independent World Affairs Councils of America
This week former Mayor Dean will talk with Doug Kreulen, the head of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) which overseas Nashville International Airport (BNA) and John C. Tune airport. They will talk about Doug’s background including his career in the US Air Force; the BNA Vision project; the damage at Tune airport from the Super Tuesday tornado; the impact of Covid-19 on BNA and the airline industry; BNA as a global gateway; and how MMNA sees Nashville as a global city.
Douglas E. Kreulen
President and CEO
Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority
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 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 374th 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 314th 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 37th 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.