Commissioner Jamie Rhee Announces Retirement from the Chicago Department of Aviation
CHICAGO – Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Commissioner Jamie Rhee today announced her retirement from her post, effective April 15, 2025. Rhee was appointed in 2018 and has overseen transformational projects at both O’Hare and Midway International Airports.
“Throughout her decades-long career, Commissioner Rhee embodied the best of public service, and she has left an indelible mark on our airports and our city,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Her work has improved the travel experience for hundreds of millions of visitors that will be felt for generations to come. Her unwavering commitment to diverse businesses of all types and sizes has opened countless doors for Chicagoans who have been shut out for far too long. I want to thank Commissioner Rhee for her tremendous service to our city and our people.”
“I am eternally grateful for the opportunities that have been afforded to me and am extremely proud of the work that’s been accomplished to move our City and our airports forward,” said CDA Commissioner Rhee. “I would like to thank my team at the department of Aviation and my colleagues for their incredible dedication to public service.”
Under Commissioner Rhee’s leadership, Chicago’s airports welcomed over 100 million passengers in 2024. Commissioner Rhee has played a pivotal role in several transformative projects, including:
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Modernized Terminal 5 adding 350,000 square feet, 10 new gates to accommodate different size aircraft and constructed and commissioned a new parking facility.
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Expanded the new security checkpoint at Midway International Airport doubling the capacity from 2,500 to 5,000 passengers an hour.
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Managed the completion of the Midway Modernization Program which included a $75 million investment in the concessions redevelopment program and has one of the highest Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) participation in the nation.
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Managed the reconfiguration of O’Hare’s airfield from an intersecting runway system to a parallel (east-west) runway configuration. This monumental shift not only modernized the airport but also resulted in a 66% reduction in system impact delays and created tens of thousands of jobs.
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Sought and received approval for $90 million in discretional federal funding for Terminal 3 improvements and $20 million for Terminal 5.
Rhee's journey in aviation began as a Customer Service Foreign Language Assistant at O’Hare International Airport while she pursued her law degree at night. Her early career saw her taking on roles in the City’s Planning and Development Department and the Department of Law. She then returned to the CDA as General Counsel for the O’Hare Modernization Program (OMP) and the Mayor’s Office as a Deputy Chief of Staff under Mayor Richard M. Daley before serving as the Chief Procurement Officer for nearly a decade.
Commissioner Rhee is a recognized leader in the Aviation industry. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Airports Council International – North America and as a member of the Airports Council International World Board; she previously served as Chair of the US Policy Council for the Airport Council International – North America during FAA reauthorization. She also serves on the National Boards of the American Association of Airport Executives, Executive Women in Aviation, U.S. Travel Association and the World Travel and Tourism Council, as well as several local boards.
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