DSM Executive Director, Kevin Foley.

Des Moines International Airport Executive Director Kevin Foley Announces Retirement

October 23, 2024

Des Moines, IA (October 23, 2024) — Kevin Foley, Executive Director of the Des Moines Airport
Authority, has announced his retirement, effective April 4, 2025. Foley has led the Des Moines
International Airport for the past decade, and in February 2025, he will celebrate 11 years at the helm
of DSM. The Board of Directors will announce plans for his successor in the coming months.

“I’ve always suspected I wouldn’t move into the new terminal, and now feels like the right time to let
new leadership guide DSM into the future,” said Foley.

Under Foley’s leadership, Des Moines International Airport secured critical funding for the
construction of a new terminal, a project that will transform the airport’s capacity and operations.
Foley’s strategic efforts, including securing funds from twenty central Iowa communities, helped move
the project forward. Construction is already underway, with the new terminal set to open to the public
in January 2027.

Foley also continued the airport’s transition from city governance to an independent authority, allowing
for greater operational flexibility and long-term planning. During his tenure as Executive Director, DSM
saw tremendous growth, with annual passenger numbers rising from 1.8 million in 2011 to a record-breaking
3 million in 2023. The airport is on track for another milestone year, with passenger traffic up
by 3.3% year-over-year.

“On behalf of the DSM Airport Authority Board of Directors, I extend our profound gratitude for Kevin’s
leadership, dedicated service, and long-lasting impact at the Des Moines Airport,” said Jake
Christensen, Chair of the Airport Authority Board. “Kevin has been instrumental in leading
transformational efforts during his tenure while building a team of highly capable Directors to carry on
the work. We wish him all the best on his well-deserved retirement.”

Foley joined the Des Moines International Airport in 2008 as Properties Administrator before
becoming Deputy Aviation Director in 2009, Assistant Executive Director in 2011, and finally
Executive Director in 2014.

Before his time at DSM, Foley was an Associate Professor of Aviation at the University of Dubuque
and held key management roles at Dubuque Regional Airport from 1992 to 2000. He also worked as a
corporate pilot. Foley holds an MBA, a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management, and is a certified
flight instructor and multi-engine commercial pilot.

Foley’s retirement marks the end of a transformative era for Des Moines International Airport, as
construction on the new terminal continues under the foundation he helped establish. As the Airport
Authority begins planning for new leadership, Foley’s legacy will guide DSM through this next phase
of growth and development.