John D. Kasarda, Ph. D.
John D. Kasarda is Kenan Distinguished Professor of Management and Director of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School. Dr. Kasarda has published more than 100 scholarly articles and nine books on aviation infrastructure, logistics, economic development, competitiveness, and commercial real estate. He is frequently quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Business Week, and international media. Dr. Kasarda has offered numerous executive programs on air logistics, airport cities, firm siting, and global supply-chain management to multinational firms such as FedEx, Lufthansa, DHL, Thai Airways International, Caterpillar Logistics, Prudential Real Estate, Bank of America and Deloitte & Touche and has been an advisor to airports around the globe. He also regularly chairs the "Airport Cities" conferences around the world. Under his leadership, the Kenan Institute was named the world's top air logistics educational institution by The International Air Cargo Association for its work on airports and economic development.
Dr. Kasarda received his B.S. and M.B.A. (with Distinction) from Cornell University and his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina. He has been the recipient of many grants and awards from such organizations as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, World Bank, National Science Foundation, National Academy of Sciences, the United Nations Development Program, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Dr. Kasarda has been elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his research on airport-driven economic development and a Senior Fellow and Trustee of the Urban Land Institute. He is considered the leading developer of the Aerotropolis concept defining the roles of aviation and airports in shaping 21st century business competitiveness and urban growth.
