Employee Spotlight: Adel Abouelsenoun, Airport Duty Manager

Aviation has always been part of his story

Adel grew up with a love for aviation from a very young age. Born in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, he was raised in a highly international environment with friends and neighbors from all over the world. His father is Egyptian and his mother is Filipino so the family often traveled to visit relatives in the Philippines, Egypt, and beyond.

"My first international flight was at 9 months old," he said. "Living near an air base and traveling so much really sparked my interest."

After moving to the United States at age 12 and graduating from high school, he spent a few years as a student pilot and originally planned to fly for the U.S. military. But after the release of the Top Gun sequel in 2022, Adel says the surge in applicants created a three-year waiting list to begin flight training. Instead, he chose to launch his career right away by working at airports - a decision he says paid off.

Today, he is focused on continuing to grow his career at TPA, with a strong interest in Advanced Air Mobility, a rapidly developing industry that is expected to bring Florida's first electric, battery-powered aircraft in the coming year. Adel says he is especially interested in how the new technology will be regulated as state transportation leaders, private companies, the FAA and local airports work together to bring it to reality.

Adel is also active beyond TPA. In 2022, he joined the Tampa Bay Aviation Association as a board member and secretary, where he helps support scholarship opportunities for people pursuing careers in aviation.

"It allows me to provide that opportunity for others to get into this amazing industry," he said.