DFW International Airport Salutes Clay Paslay's Retirement After 25 Years Of Service

DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Texas (April 5, 2006) - Clay Paslay, who began his career at DFW in 1981 as a project manager and went on to lead more than $4 billion in airport expansion projects - including International Terminal D and Skylink, the world's largest airport people mover - will retire from his position as Executive Vice President of Airport Development, to begin a construction consulting business.

Paslay's management firm will work with airports and other large facility owners to develop strategies for executing major capital programs. 

"Clay's incredible expertise, experience and professionalism over the past 25 years has literally transformed our Airport into one of the most incredible facilities in the world and the undisputed economic engine of North Texas," said Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport. "Clay's management of billions of dollars in contracts and thousands of employees has made the difference in DFW's growth, expansion and improvements for the citizens of North Texas. We wish Clay well and rest assured we will be calling upon him in the future for his wise counsel as our facility continues to expand and evolve." 

Paslay crowned his accomplishments last summer with the successful completion of the Airport's Capital Development Program (CDP). That $2.7 billion program included the 2 million-square-foot International Terminal D, the Skylink Automated People Mover system, airfield improvements including three 2,000-foot runway extensions as well as many other airport infrastructure enhancements. The project also included more than $600 million of contracts with minority and women-owned businesses, setting new records for diversity participation in North Texas and in the airport industry. 

“I'm proud of my work at DFW Airport and the team members involved in these very successful development projects," Paslay said. "One of my proudest moments at DFW was completion of the $2.7 billion Capital Development Program on time and on budget. The Airport Development Department team worked together at all levels to accomplish this rare feat in construction."  

As part of the CDP, Paslay also implemented an innovative safety-training program, which has been recognized nationally, as well as a skills training program to help small and emerging business grow into sustainable companies. 

Paslay was recognized nationally by Engineering News Record Magazine as a 2005 top newsmaker. Under his guidance, the CDP has won multiple awards, including The American Foundation for the Blind 2006 Access Award, OSHA Regional Administrator's 2005 Outstanding Safety Award and the 2005 American Council of Engineering Companies National Engineering Excellence Award. 

"The staff of DFW is the best of any airport in the world and Clay Paslay personifies the leadership and vision that has made our Airport the third busiest in the world," said Jan Collmer, chairman of the DFW International Airport Board of Directors. "Over the past 25 years, Clay has led the efforts to build a successful, functioning city at DFW on acreage that is larger than the island of Manhattan. His projects will remain part of our Airport landscape for decades to come and have made travel easier, more convenient and secure for our passengers."  

While at DFW, Paslay has served as Executive Vice President, Deputy Executive Director and Director of Airport Development, Program Manager for DFW Westside Development and Project Manager. 

Over the span of his career at DFW, Paslay has led significant design and construction projects such as the Rental Car Center, the In-line Baggage System, the Airports state-of-the-art Fire Training Facility and the East Runway expansion program, which included the nation's largest mitigation project at the time.

As Deputy Executive Director of DFW, Paslay implemented the airport's new concessions business model and program involving 100 food and beverage locations in four terminals; he also oversaw the development of the airport's master plan update and the development of the airport's first land use master plan. One of the more noted accomplishments was the creation of the Airport Development Team concept which integrated both public and private sector professionals into a single management team, drastically lowering the airport's project soft cost and change order ratio, and has become the standard in the industry.  

"DFW International Airport is one of the world's finest airports, and I have been honored to have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge, industry-leading projects and issues with colleagues who are world-class experts in our field," Paslay said. "It's been an incredible experience."  

Paslay, a Fort Worth native, received his bachelor's degree from The University of Texas - Arlington and completed the PMD Executive Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Business.