OREANDA-NEWS. Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) Director Emilio T. Gonzalez has filled four posts on the Department's leadership team with a mix of professionals from the aviation industry as well as from high-level management positions in other related fields.

In March, longtime MDAD executive Gregory C. Owens was promoted to Assistant Director for Business Retention and Development. In his new role, Owens oversees the Commercial Operations, Hospitality, Marketing and Real Estate Management divisions for MIA and the County's four general aviation airports. Previously at MDAD, Owens served as Division Director for Real Estate Management, Coordinator of the \\$1.3 billion Miami Intermodal Center Development and Coordinator of the North Terminal Development. Before joining MDAD, Owens was Director of Miami-Dade County's Department of Business and Economic Development. He also brings 13 years of commercial banking experience to his public service career. Owens is a graduate of Alabama A&M University and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, Executive Education.

In February, Gonzalez named Joseph Napoli Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor. Along with assisting the Aviation Director in directing all administrative, financial and operational activities for the department, Mr. Napoli oversees MDAD's Communications, Fine Arts and Cultural Affairs, Intergovernmental Affairs, Professional Compliance and Protocol and International Affairs divisions. Before joining MDAD, Mr. Napoli was Senior Associate and South Florida Lead at the Miami office of Booz Allen Hamilton, a leading national strategy and technology consulting firm. Prior to that, he completed a distinguished career in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of Colonel during his nearly 30 years of service. Mr. Napoli holds degrees from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Army War College and Columbia University.

Also in February, Dan Agostino joined the MDAD team as Assistant Director for Operations, responsible for overseeing the Terminal, Landside and Airside operations divisions at MIA and the County's general aviation airports, which includes a workforce of more than 350 MDAD employees. Agostino brings more than 25 years of airline industry experience to the job, having held private sector leadership positions at both MIA and New York's JFK Airport in the areas of airport operations, cargo sales and cargo operations. Prior to joining MDAD, Agostino served as Director of Tower/Ramp Operations for American Airlines at MIA. He is a graduate of New York's Hofstra University.

Last fall, Hiram L. Barroso was named Senior Executive Assistant to the Director and Deputy Chief of Staff, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Office of the Director, providing advice to the Director on management issues, and serving as a liaison between the Office of the Director and MDAD staff, the Mayor's Office, the Board of County Commissioners and other relevant agencies. Previously, Barroso served as Chief of Staff to Miami-Dade County Commission Chairwoman Rebeca Sosa, Director of Immigration Constituent Services for U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, and Deputy Director of Constituent Services for U.S. Senators Mel Martinez and George LeMieux. He holds degrees from Florida International University and Barry University.