Our Team
We love our people! J|D gathers elite professionals from varied disciplines and cultures to enrich our insights in the global aviation industry. Experience the wealth of knowledge and innovation that only diverse perspectives can offer.
Matt Johnson
Sr. Vice President
Executive Leadership
With 20-years under his belt as part of the J|D family, Matt has been blessed with contributing to and witnessing first-hand the transformation of a small startup aviation planning firm to a nationally recognized company offering planning, implementation and operations management at North America’s largest airport. Through his extensive years of domestic and international aviation planning experience, Mr. Johnson has been involved in a wide range of facilities and operations planning assignments. Along with his work on a variety of environmental, terminal, and financial planning projects, Mr. Johnson offers clients comprehensive working knowledge of all aspects of the airport environment.
Mr. Johnson directs J|D’s Planning & Programming Division, which includes the Planning Practice and Capital Programs & Infrastructure Practice. In addition to leading the Division, he excels in managing complex technical and strategic initiatives, serving as the day-to-day lead for on-call assignments for Los Angeles International, Atlanta Hartsfield International, Richmond International, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Lambert-St. Louis International, and the Houston Airport System. His master planning experience includes leading major efforts in support of master plans for Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Memphis/Shelby County International, Atlanta Hartsfield International, Omaha Eppley Airfield, Los Angeles International, San Diego International, and Richmond International Airports.
Q & A with Matt
What industry changes or trends do you think will have the biggest impact?
Amongst the most impactful changes are those related to improving the efficiency of the passenger bag check-in process. As biometric technologies continue to be integrated into passenger processing, the ability to safely and securely allow passengers to complete the check-in process – with no interaction with ticketing agents – and place their checked baggage on a drop belt will revolutionize our approach to terminal planning/design.
At a minimum, the spatial needs related to terminal ticketing facilities are likely to be reduced. More importantly those functions could much more easily be distributed to various locations – to the benefit of both the traveler and the airport/airlines. Remote check-in facilities at ConRACs, parking garages and other convenient locations would make more business sense to the airlines and provide travelers with opportunities to divest themselves of bags sooner.
Self-check in is an integral part of aviation’s continued evolution to a seamless travel experience. Combined with a multitude of other innovations such as self-service security screening, parking reservations and pre purchased meals; one can easily imagine a future travel experience that is unlike today’s.
What’s your favorite memory from working at the company?
In our early years when we were just a few people, J|D occupied an office at DTW, in the old traffic control tower in the Smith Terminal. Some of my fond memories are working late and seeing the sun go down and the airfield lights come on. That and watching planes land and take off all day long made for a great workplace. And on a few occasions after a long night was blessed with seeing a great sunrise too!
Why did you join J|D?
I joined J|D because I had the opportunity to work with people I respect, care for and trust. At the time I had an opportunity to work and live in Australia, a place my wife and I fell in love with. But I knew at that time that coming back to the US to join J|D was a chance to be part of something bigger than just a good job and working with people I knew. It also meant that I could expand my appreciation for our industry and diversity within it as well as embrace the challenge of building a company. I still love Melbourne, but don’t regret that decision for one second.
What professional project are you most proud of?
J|D’s and my involvement in the Memphis International Airport Master Plan Update and resulting Terminal Modernization & Seismic Program (TMSP). These projects have been carrier defining for me. They represent the perfect blend of working with a client you truly enjoy and makes you feel part of their team, on that is a returning client – meaning we have earned their trust and are rewarded with continual assignments- and on a project that will have a profound impact on the community it serves.
What is your favorite snack or food?
My mom’s Texas Sheet Cake
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Albert Einstein once said, “Life is like riding a bicycle to keep your balance you must keep moving”! Being and avid mountain and gravel cyclist, Matt embraces this and uses the bicycle to keep healthy and to push himself competitively. When not working or on two wheels, he loves traveling/cooking with his wife/friends and makes a great Pasta alla Carbonara.
