The Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission on Thursday announced the promotion of Suzanne Peyton to executive director of Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport.
Peyton currently serves as interim deputy director and director of properties, planning and development. The commission voted unanimously to elevate her to executive director following a nationwide search that drew 22 applicants.
Peyton’s start date is Jan. 1.
David Tipton, the airport’s director of finance, will continue serving as interim executive director until she assumes the role.
Peyton follows Steven Baker, who resigned as executive director in September after clashing with airport commission chair Patrick Schueck over grant deadlines and an employment provision. Baker held the role for 13 months.
“We are excited that Suzanne Peyton will become our new executive director,” Schueck said in a news release. “Suzanne’s leadership and vision are essential to our ongoing efforts to provide an exceptional passenger experience and drive economic impact for Arkansas. The airport is the first and last impression of our city and state, and we are confident she and the airport team will continue enhancing our facilities and services.”
A Little Rock native, Peyton joined the airport’s executive team in 2021 and has overseen all planning and construction initiatives, guiding major modernization and infrastructure projects. Her responsibilities expanded to include oversight of daily operations, strategic budget planning, and business development initiatives.
“Suzanne stepped into the role of interim deputy director during a period of significant transition for the airport,” Schueck said in the release. “Her steady leadership ensured that operations remained smooth and reliable. Suzanne’s commitment to stability and her focus on supporting our staff, passengers and stakeholders have been invaluable. We are confident that the same dedication will guide her as executive director.”
Peyton is an engineer by trade who joined the airport after 25 years with Garver, where she led the aviation planning team and managed development projects for airports of all sizes nationwide.
She holds a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Louisiana Tech University and is a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives. She is active in The Rotary Club of Little Rock and WTS Arkansas, where she serves on the board. She is also a graduate and former class chair of Leadership Greater Little Rock and serves on the Baptist Health board of trustees.
“I am grateful for the confidence the airport commission has placed in me,” Peyton said in the release. “This airport connects travelers to what matters most- family, opportunity and community. Getting to serve my own community in this capacity makes this work deeply meaningful. I’m excited to lead our team as we strive to provide a first-class facility for our passengers and a future focus for our organization.”
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