Brian Mulcahy, who has served as assistant executive director of the Des Moines International Airport for the past two years, will move into the top role with the retirement of Kevin Foley next spring, the airport’s board of directors announced today.

Mulcahy was named assistant executive director in 2022 after serving as the airport’s finance director, a position he held for 10 years. He will become executive director when Foley retires in April 2025.

Jake Christensen, chair of the airport authority board, said in a news release that Mulcahy’s hiring two years ago as assistant executive director followed a nationwide search to “ensure we had the right candidate to lead [us] in the future.”

“Brian was that ideal choice then, and we are confident in his vision and capability to guide [the airport] into its next phase,” Christensen said in the release.

As executive director, Mulcahy will oversee key projects at the airport, including the current construction of a new parking garage and terminal.

“This is an exciting time for the airport, and we are blessed to have a very strong team of airport authority employees,” he said in the release. “I appreciate Kevin’s mentorship over the past 13 years, and look forward to leveraging my experience to continue the strong tradition of providing a safe and secure airport for the benefit of all Iowans.”

Before joining the airport as finance director, Mulcahy held management roles in auditing, financial accounting, and operations in the insurance industry. He also served 34 years in the Iowa Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves, which included two decades as a pilot. He retired at the rank of colonel.

Mulcahy holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Iowa State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. He is also a certified public accountant and an accredited airport executive.

Foley said Mulcahy is “the right person to bring the first phase of the new terminal project to completion” and build on the airport’s successes over the past 13 years.

“Since 2015, he’s had a pivotal role in strategic planning, from enabling projects to terminal design, the bond referendum and the loan agreement with Polk County,” Foley said in the release.

“With his leadership experience and his involvement in terminal planning as a member of the Authority’s Project Management Committee, he is the best candidate for the position.”