Felice Smith becomes vice president and secretary of Airports Authority

Friday, February 23, 2024

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board of directors has given its approval for Felice C. Smith to assume the role of vice president and secretary of the Airports Authority, following a decision made during a special meeting on Wednesday. Smith’s appointment will take effect on March 10.

Having joined the Airports Authority in February 2019 as associate general counsel, Smith has been instrumental in upholding ethical standards as the Authority’s ethics officer. In her new capacity, she will directly report to the 17-member board of directors, overseeing official duties and daily operations. Additionally, Smith will act as a liaison to the Airports Authority’s senior management. Monica Hargrove, who has served as vice president and secretary since 2016, will be retiring and will support Smith during the transition period.

During the special board meeting, Airports Authority Chairman Thorn Pozen extended congratulations to Smith on her appointment and expressed gratitude to Hargrove for her service and assistance during the transition process.

“Felice Smith has significant experience working with the Airports Authority, its staff and the board working on aviation issues and legal issues throughout her career,” Pozen said. “In addition, I want to thank Monica for her years of dedicated service to the board, as well as her service prior to that to the Airports Authority staff.”  

Before joining the Airports Authority, Smith held the position of deputy chief ethics officer at the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Her career in public service also encompassed roles such as assistant general counsel at the Library of Congress and special assistant U.S. Lawyer in the Civil Division of the U.S.. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Smith obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina and her law degree from Howard University.

In anticipation of Smith’s departure from her current role, the board also sanctioned the appointment of Bruce Heppen, an associate general counsel at the Airports Authority, to act as the interim ethics officer until a permanent replacement is selected.

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