The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) recently announced the appointment of two new Deputy General Managers at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Emanuel Ciminiello and Stephen Williams will join the General Manager’s Office as part of a strategic enhancement to its management structure. This expansion comes at a pivotal time as the airport undergoes a $19.5 billion redevelopment initiative designed to transform PANYNJ facilities and services while experiencing unprecedented growth that will surpass the passenger demand recorded in 2019. Emanuel and Steve will bring their extensive experience and leadership to JFK and oversee the complex operations and strategic execution of the ambitious redevelopment plans.
Emanuel Ciminiello, PE, Deputy General Manager Operations, Maintenace and Construction, has extensive experience as the Airport Operations Manager and Physical Plant Manager at JFK and has 22 years of experience at the PANYNJ. Before his time at JFK, he was the Engineer of Construction at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) during the first few years of the LGA Redevelopment Program. His additional experience includes working in the Engineering Department and Construction Management Division, overseeing significant Aviation projects, such as JFK’s new Terminal 5 and the AirTrain Jamaica Station. Before joining the Port Authority, Emanuel worked for the NYC School Construction Authority as a project manager, spending several years working on civil and environmental projects in the private sector for a consulting engineering firm. In this new role, he will focus on airport operations, maintenance, and construction and coordinate these functions to ensure continued collaboration and sustain day-to-day operations. His experience in the public and private sectors brings an impressive array of technical skills and operational experience to his new role as the Deputy General Manager.
In addition to his impressive portfolio of professional experience, Emanuel’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering from Manhattan College, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from St. John’s University.
Stephen D. Williams, AAE, Deputy General Manager of Policy, Planning, and Administration, joins the PANYNJ from the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), where he held the position of Deputy Executive Director with over 40 years of airport and transportation management experience. Before joining the DRBA as its Airports Director in 2005, he spent 11 years as the airport manager of Republic Airport in Farmingdale, Long Island, a large New York metropolitan area reliever airport with 500-based aircraft, and it is the fourth busiest in the state. From 1986-1990, Steve served as Project Manager and Vice President of Pan Am World Service’s private contract management operation of the City of Atlantic City’s two airport facilities, Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) and the former Bader Field (AIY). Steve’s focus will be on Policy, Planning, and Administration. This position is critical in ensuring effective management and implementation of our policies and administrative functions, oversight of financial planning efforts for budgets, and coordination of special events.
A City College of New York (CCNY) graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in political science, Steve earned his Master of Business Administration in Aviation Management from Dowling College in 1998. He has also completed certificate courses in airport planning and design from the Polytechnic Institute of New York and airport systems and planning and design at the University of California—Berkeley. In addition to his impressive educational credentials, Steve is a licensed private general aviation pilot with over 700 hours of flight experience.
Adding a second Deputy General Manager reflects the commitment to ensuring that JFK Airport meets and exceeds the operational and customer service standards expected of a world-class facility.
