01/27/2016
By: Lindsay Peyton
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport welcomed a new managing director today.Lance Lyttle replaces Mark Reis, who recently retired.
Lyttle was introduced by Port of Seattle CEO Ted Fick during the Commissioners’ regularly scheduled meeting.
“He’ll hit the ground running,” Fick said. “Lance is the right person for the job. He has a great knowledge.”
Fick explained that Lyttle brings a wide range of experience and will be able to translate his work in Houston and Atlanta to local operations.
“This is a real opportunity for dynamic growth,” Fick said. “It’s a challenging time but also an exciting time.”
Lyttle most recently served as chief operating officer for Houston’s three airports – and said that his work expanding international programs in the city will be applicable to Seattle.
“There are so many similarities,” he said. “The growth here has been tremendous, especially with international arrivals. The same is true of Houston. There are many things we have done already in Houston that will be right in line with what I’m being brought here to do.”
Lyttle explained that his current challenge is to get up to speed with Sea-Tac’s operations and to become familiar with all the top priorities of the airport’s key players and stakeholders.
Guaranteeing the same level of service and safety as the airport prepares for major construction projects will be a top priority, he added.
“It’s like doing open heart surgery on a patient who is running at the same time,” he said. “Planning is very important.”
Lyttle spent a few hours already in the airport walking around to get familiar with the space and preparing to assume his new post.
“Managing director is where the buck ultimately stops at the airport,” he said.
Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Lyttle never planned to build a career in airports. He double majored in physics and computer science, before earning his master’s degree in management information systems.
He fell into the field after a call from a recruiter 16 years ago – and has never looked back. “Once you get in, it’s addictive,” he said. “It’s an industry in which there are never the same two days in row. It’s always different. You can’t be bored.”