Internationally recognized as a leader in the field of airport affairs, Mr. Gaines has over 45 years of airport management, airline and consulting experience. Since organizing his consulting practice in 1998 his expertise has been by enlisted by governments, public and private airport operators, corporations and consulting firms across the globe.

In addition he has held the chief executive position at two major U.S. airports for over 22 years. He was director of aviation for the City of Houston where he managed and developed the City’s airport system (Bush Intercontinental Airport, Hobby Airport, Ellington Field, a joint civil – military facility, and the CBD Heliport). Prior to this posting he was the director of airports in Salt Lake City, Utah for over six years. He was also deputy director of airports in Sacramento, CA for six years.

Paul Gaines was appointed to the world board of the Airports Council International (ACI) in 1991 and was subsequently elected chairman of the board from 1996-97. In this capacity he represented ACI on several ICAO panels and chaired delegations to major ICAO and IATA worldwide events. He was elected to the board of the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) in 1976 and served as chairman from 1984-85. He is the 2009 recipient of ACI-NA’s prestigious William E. Downes Award. He holds professional accreditation (AAE) with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and received their distinguished service award in 1993. Mr. Gaines holds CAE accreditation with the Southwest Chapter of AAAE. He served as a member of the advisory committee of Texas A & M University’s Transportation Institute, and was a member of the board of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. He is a past member of the executive committee of the Transportation Research Board (TRB), an operating unit of the National Academy of Sciences, and of the board of the Airport Research and Development Foundation.

Mr. Gaines served as an adjunct professor of transportation at Texas Southern University in Houston, TX.

He holds Masters and Bachelors degrees in business administration from
Tulane University.

INDUSTRY AFFILIATIONS

  • ACI, Chairman of the world board, 1995-97
  • ACI-North America, Chairman, 1984-85
  • ACI-Latin America, Board of Directors, 1988-90
  • AAAE, professional accreditation

CIVIC & ACADEMIC ROLES

  • Texas A&M University’s Transportation Institute, Advisory Board, 1989-97
  • Transportation Research Board, Executive Committee, 1988-91
  • Texas Southern University, Adjunct Professor of Transportation, 1991-93
  • Texas A&M University’s Transportation Institute, Advisory Board, 1989-97
  • Transportation Research Board, Executive Committee, 1988-91

Employment History

  • Houston, Director of Aviation, 1982-98
  • Salt Lake City, Director of Aviation, 1976-82
  • Sacramento, Deputy Director of Airports,
    1970-76
  • Avtech, Inc., Vice President, 1968-70
  • Eastern Airlines, Regional Director of Properties, 1964-68

Education

Tulane University, New Orleans, LA

  • Masters of Business Administration
  • Bachelors of Business Administration