Denver International Airport Chief Executive Officer Phil Washington said Wednesday that he is heading for retirement, marking Aug. 1 as his departure date. He described the move as long planned and used the announcement to praise the airport’s staff and the slate of projects finished on his watch. During his tenure, DEN saw record passenger traffic and major terminal upgrades.
“I am honored to have served the public for so many years,” Washington wrote in a statement, calling his decision “long-planned” and applauding DEN’s teams. In comments shared with CBS Colorado, he said he was proud of what the airport has accomplished and confident that current leadership is ready to keep major projects moving. The retirement notice lists Aug. 1 as his final day and does not lay out a timetable for naming a successor.
Washington's background and appointment
Washington was nominated to lead Denver International Airport in 2021 and confirmed that July, according to public records and reporting by Wikipedia. Before coming to DEN, he headed large transit agencies and managed major capital programs. He took over the airport’s top job from Kim Day, who had led the facility for 13 years, according to the same reporting by Wikipedia.
Big projects: walkways and the Great Hall
Under Washington’s leadership, DEN rolled out plans to build pedestrian walkways between Concourses A, B, and C by reusing existing underground tunnels, a move airport officials say will give travelers a backup option if the automated people-mover goes down. Officials have pegged the potential price tag for the project between $300 million and $700 million and said construction planning is expected to begin next year. Funding is slated to come from airport revenues, not the city’s general fund, according to reporting from CBS Colorado.
Security and scrutiny after the runway incident
Washington also became a central figure in the airport’s response after a trespasser was struck and killed by a departing flight in May, an incident that drew federal and local scrutiny. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering information about the aircraft evacuation and could decide whether to open a formal safety investigation, according to AP News. Airport officials have said they are reviewing perimeter detection systems, alarm response, and evacuation procedures while those inquiries continue.
What comes next at DEN
Washington’s Aug. 1 departure will kick off the city’s formal process for choosing a new chief executive. Under the city charter, the mayor’s pick must be confirmed by the Denver City Council, according to municipal documents, per City and County of Denver. Airport officials say day-to-day operations will continue under the current leadership team while the transition plays out and any national search gets underway. Airline partners and city leaders have indicated they want to keep major projects on schedule as DEN plans for continued growth into the next decade.
