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Cleveland airport chief Robert Kennedy resigns, telling staff he plans to spend more time with family

Port Director since January 2017, Kennedy said in letter to City Hall he'll work with administration on smooth transition.

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Director of Port Control Robert Kennedy – who oversees Hopkins International Airport - has resigned.

In a letter to Chief Operation Officer Bonnie Teeuwen, Kennedy said he is resigning.

“This was not an easy decision,” he wrote. “After much consideration I have decided to devote all my time to being a husband, father and grandfather.”

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Kennedy was hired by former Mayor Frank Jackson in January 2017 after more than a year-long search.

He said in the letter he’s is open to working on a “short term” transition plan.

The city of Cleveland provided a statement on Kennedy's resignation to 3News.

"After much deliberation, Director Robert Kennedy formalized his pending departure as Director of Port Control for the City of Cleveland. He is looking forward to retirement and spending more time with his family. For the past 5 years, Director Kennedy’s leadership and experience in the aviation industry has guided Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to become one of the top midsize airports in the nation. CLE has overcome much adversity and remained stable throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, CLE recovered at a higher rate for passenger traffic than the national average.

Director Kennedy is working closely with the City of Cleveland to ensure a smooth transition prior to his departure. His final day in the position has not yet been determined. Additionally, the executive team will continue driving the strategy for growth and development with the implementation of the Master Plan that will prepare the airport for a quarter million passengers in the next 20 years.

“We are grateful to Director Kennedy for his steadfast leadership—particularly for seeing our airport system through the many challenges presented by the pandemic,” said City of Cleveland Chief Operating Officer Bonnie Teeuwen.

“The city is prepared to conduct a national search for a new airport director,” Chief Teeuwen added. “We continue to look for the brightest and best candidates for leadership roles, particularly those that can help transition our city and services to the next level.”

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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