Update ACRP Report 75 With Latest Leadership Trends
BACKGROUND: Airports depend on visionary leadership for safe, efficient operations, but finding and retaining such leaders is a challenge. While ACRP Report 75: Airport Leadership Development Program established standards for leadership training and retention, the landscape has significantly evolved since the report was published in 2013. Advances in digital and simulation-based learning, the adoption of data-driven strategies, and an increased emphasis on soft skills necessitate an update to align with today's dynamic industry demands. Research is needed to help current and future airport leaders assess, acquire, and refine their individual leadership skills, enabling them to effectively navigate the latest trends and best practices shaping the modern airport industry. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to update ACRP Report 75: Airport Leadership Development Program by integrating the latest trends and best practices driving today's airport industry. Sections A, B, and C of ACRP Report 75 will be updated to align with three levels of leadership identified as follows: front line staff/individual contributors; managers and supervisors; and senior staff management. The update should include the following for each level of leadership: (1) baseline assessment; (2) case studies; (3) resources and implementation of leadership development programs; (4) proven strategies used by leadership programs outside the airport industry; (5) core competencies for curriculum development; (6) best practices for 360-degree leadership; (7) guiding direct reports, partnering with peers, and influencing senior leadership and outside stakeholders; (8) principles of succession and retention planning; and (9) future projections of leadership trends for the next 5 years. RESEARCH PLAN: The ACRP is seeking the insights of proposers on how best to achieve the research objective. Proposers are expected to describe research plans that can realistically be accomplished within the constraints of available funds and subaward time. Proposals must present the proposers' current thinking in sufficient detail to demonstrate their understanding of the issues and the soundness of their approach to meeting the research objective. The work proposed must be divided into tasks and proposers must describe the work proposed in detail. The research plan shall comprise the appropriate interim deliverables for ACRP review and approval, including: list of the appropriate content in ACRP Report 75 to retain; draft list of case studies; draft list of survey questions; draft list of recommended core competencies and curricula; draft list of best mediums for delivery of findings and resources; a focus group plan that validates their initial findings (see Special Note D); Interim report that provides a description and analysis of each research task completed to date, including sample templates/frameworks, an annotated outline of the update, and potential problem statement(s) based on research gaps; and an updated amplified research plan (if needed). Note: For each problem statement approved by the panel, the research team will use the ACRP problem statement process (https://trb.org/ACRP/problemstatements.aspx) to submit the problem statement on behalf of the project panel. The development and submission of problem statements should occur as soon as possible, taking into account the ACRP problem statement annual submission deadline of early April. Note: The interim report should be of sufficient detail and clarity to allow the panel to confirm successful accomplishment of the technical aspects of the research plan performed to date. The research plan shall include the following checkpoints with the ACRP panel: kick-off web meeting to be held within 1 month of the Notice to Proceed; one face-to-face interim deliverable review meeting and web-enabled teleconferences tied to the panel review and ACRP approval of other interim deliverables as deemed appropriate; and web-enabled teleconferences tied to the panel review and ACRP approval of other interim deliverables as deemed appropriate. Final deliverables shall include: the update (see Special Note F); a technical memo titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products” (see item IV); Key Findings form (see item V); and A Conduct of Research Report documenting the entire research effort, results, and analysis (see item VI). Note: Following receipt of the draft final deliverables, there should be 3 months for ACRP review and comments and for the research team’s preparation of the final deliverables. For budgeting purposes, proposers should assume that ACRP will provide access to web-enabled teleconference services. ACRP will pay panel members’ travel costs for the face-to-face interim meeting. Proposers should assume that the meeting will be held in Washington, DC. SPECIAL NOTES: (A) Case studies may include airlines and aviation industry partners. (B) Resources to be considered should be published within the last 5 years. (C) Research should build on ACRP Report 75. (D) Focus groups and case studies should be representative of airports of all sizes and managerial experience. (E) Successful proposers should provide initial thoughts of training course delivery options. (F) The proposer shall specify the format of the update.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $400,000.00
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Contract Numbers:
Project 06-12
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Sponsor Organizations:
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC United States 20591 -
Managing Organizations:
Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP)
Transportation Research Board
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001 -
Project Managers:
Picciano, Tara
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Performing Organizations:
1010 N Glebe Road, Suite 510
Arlington, VA United States 22201 -
Principal Investigators:
Calderón, Robert
- Start Date: 20260715
- Expected Completion Date: 0
- Actual Completion Date: 0
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Airports; Leadership; Management; Personnel retention; Training
- Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Aviation; Education and Training; Terminals and Facilities;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01962996
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
- Contract Numbers: Project 06-12
- Files: TRB, RIP
- Created Date: Aug 12 2025 10:03AM