The City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation, operator of Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE) has announced the appointment of M. Denise Bailey as Deputy Director of Aviation, Business Diversity and Accessibility. In this role, Bailey leads PHL’s and PNE’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Airport Concessions DBE (ACDBE), Small Business and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) responsibilities.  She is responsible for the airport’s compliance with Federal Aviation Administration’s requirements in these areas and for driving business diversity, capacity-building efforts, and accessibility. 

“We are excited to welcome Denise to our team,” said Tracy Borda, Department of Aviation CFO. “Denise worked closely with the airports for many years as a consultant and her expertise in business diversity will be a tremendous asset as we continue to enhance our program.”  

Prior to her current role, Bailey managed the Government Consulting Department of Milligan Consulting, LLC; a minority-owned firm based in Philadelphia. Under her 30 years of leadership, the firm provided consulting services to Federal, state, and local governments in the areas of Diversity, Transportation Grant Compliance, and Economic Development.  She led a team of professionals that provided services to the aviation, transit, and highway industry.  Bailey earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and Engineering from Drexel University. While attending Drexel, she gained her first experience in aviation during her cooperative education assignments with the Engineering Department at PHL.

Bailey’s memberships include the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC), Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), and Women’s Transportation Seminar.