LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport announced that Steven C. Baker has been appointed the new executive director, effective August 6.
Baker was selected and unanimously approved by the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission. His hiring was approved in June, and his contract was finalized with an annual base salary of $275,000 plus benefits.
“I am excited to serve as the next executive director of Clinton National Airport, and I appreciate the commission’s confidence in me,” he said. “I look forward to working collaboratively with the commission, the airport team, and the Little Rock community to advance the airport’s role as a leading transportation hub and a key economic engine for the state of Arkansas.”
Baker has nearly 40 years of airline, real estate, and airport leadership experience under his belt.
He began his career working at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport Hub with United Airlines. Since then, he's worked with American Airlines, served as deputy general manager at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, deputy aviation director for the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, and an executive at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
Baker holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Cornell University.
“We are delighted to have Steve join us as the new executive director of Clinton National Airport,” Bill Walker, chairman of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission, said. “His exceptional experience and leadership will be essential as we work with staff to expand the airport and build on the successes of our previous executive director.”
Baker will occupy the executive director role previously held by Bryan Malinowski, who died earlier this year after a controversial ATF raid of his home — Malinowski served as executive director from 2019 until 2024.