Jose F. Saavedra
Strategic Advisor | Infrastructure Leader | Aviation Executive
Jose F. Saavedra is an experienced executive in transportation, infrastructure, and aviation strategy, known for bringing clarity to complexity and delivering results in high-stakes environments. His career bridges public service and industry, combining policy fluency with a disciplined, operations-focused leadership style.
He currently serves as Airport Director at Bangor International Airport (BGR), where he oversees the strategic and operational direction of one of Maine’s most critical transportation assets. Under his leadership, the airport has secured record federal investment, expanded air service, and launched a series of major infrastructure projects. These projects include a full runway rehabilitation, terminal modernization efforts, and energy resilience initiatives, all while managing a multi-million enterprise fund and a team of over 130 professionals.
Prior to his role at BGR, Jose served as Director of Industry Programs at the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the leading voice of U.S. airports. There, he led national programs in innovation, sustainability, finance, and advanced air mobility, helping to shape future-facing strategies for airports across the country. His work brought together federal agencies, private partners, and local governments to solve for what’s next in aviation and infrastructure.
Jose’s strength lies in his ability to operate at both the strategic and systems level, aligning vision with execution, and long-term planning with short-term action. Whether guiding capital programs, improving organizational performance, or facilitating public-private partnerships, his work is grounded in practical insight and a clear-eyed understanding of how things get done.
He is a frequent speaker and contributor on topics such as infrastructure resilience, aviation policy, and leadership in complex systems. His recent engagements include global industry summits across North America and Europe.