Gary Warren, Vice President - Planning, Development and Environment, Metropolitan Airports Commission, USA

Speaker Biograghy: Mr Warren is the Vice President of Planning, Development and Environment for the Metropolitan Airports Commission at MSP. He has a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He is a registered professional engineer and has been with the MAC for 23 years. He manages a staff of professional engineers, architects and scientists, and oversees a $100 to $500 million annual capital programme. He has directed the planning and construction of Runway 17-35, a $760m multi-phased programme that included elimination of a golf course, tenant relocations, hotel demolition next to the Mall of America, parallel taxiways, high-speed turn-offs and a CAT III approach. He was a team leader involved with updating the MSP 2030 Master Plan and associated environmental assessment. He has received national recognition by the American Public Works Association as one of the Top 10 Public Works Leaders in America. He is a private pilot.


Day 3 - 12 March
Session: Management & Operations

10:55 - 11:25 - Disaster preparedness for the flood-encroached Saint Paul Downtown airport
Synopsis: The St. Paul Airport is an intermediate airport with over 100 based corporates, including 3M, Coca-Cola, and military aircraft. For decades the airport had often been rendered out of service due to catastrophic flood water encroachment from the abutting Mississippi River. After 10 years of effort, a $30m flood protection system has been constructed, which includes the longest segment of deployable floodwall in the world. Since its completion the system has been deployed five times, most recently in 2014 to successfully abate floodwaters and allow the airport to remain operational. This was a journey through risk assessment, simulations, community relations and mitigation.

Audience will learn: