In honor of Black History Month, Earl Adams, Jr., Chairman of the Board of MWAA and Managing Partner of the Washington, DC office of the national law firm Saul Ewing, shared his personal stories, experiences, inspirations, what inclusion and diversity mean to him individually and in the workforce, and his take on how business has changed since the pandemic began.
A brief introduction of your professional journey
Interestingly, my first job out of college was with American Airlines, where I worked as a revenue management analyst. On reflection, it was one of the best jobs I ever had and it introduced me to the aviation sector. Since my time at American, my career has focused on public service and helping companies and individuals navigate government. In addition to my time as a private sector attorney, I served as chief of staff to the former Lt. Governor of Maryland. There I ran an office that oversaw a portfolio of policy areas, including transportation, public-private partnerships and health care. Currently, I am the Managing Partner of the Washington, DC Office of Saul Ewing, a national full-service law firm. I am litigator by training but use my knowledge of government and its operations to help clients solve complex regulatory and administrative issues. Prior to my current firm, I worked at two global law firms and a boutique firm in suburban Maryland.
2020 has been an unprecedented year in many ways - how have you used your role on the Board to make an impact on the community?
Last year I focused on ensuring the Authority was best positioned to continue serving the traveling public while making progress on Project Journey and completion of the Silver Line. Given the uncertainty and tumultuous nature of 2020, the greatest thing we could do for the DMV was to ensure stability at the Authority.
Recently there has been a lot of conversation about equity and inclusion. What does being an African American in an executive role mean to you?
Airports and the aviation community at large provide a vital public service so it is imperative that leadership reflect national and global the diversity. As such, I think it is important that people, especially young people, see me in my role as a Director of the Authority, and now as Chairman of the Board. I want to do my part to show them that careers in aviation and airport management are possible and rewarding.
Who are some heroes in Black history (or entrepreneurs) that inspire you and why?
I have always looked up to Vernon Jordan for his ability to bridge the gap between government and business. A highly respected lawyer, civil rights leader and statesman, Mr. Jordan has been a trusted advisor to both American Presidents and CEOs in a way very few others have. Earl Graves is another individual who I greatly admired because of his unwavering commitment to highlighting the excellence of black businesses. His magazine, Black Enterprise, was required reading for me as a young man because it regularly profiled a range of successful black businessmen and women.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
To me Black History Month is about acknowledging the accomplishments of individuals and one of the cultures that helped build our nation. It is about acknowledging that Black history is American history and through learning and discovery we can build a bridge that better connects all of us.