The Board of Directors for the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority announced that Chief Executive Officer Butch Roberts will retire effective Jan. 1, 2027, concluding forty years of distinguished service to the Port of Huntsville. The Board also announced that Amy Murphree, A.A.E., will assume the role of CEO for the Port of Huntsville starting Dec. 1. Murphree has served as the Chief Legal Officer for the Port of Huntsville since 2019.

“On behalf of the Board, I want to sincerely thank Butch for his decades of service to this organization,” said Joey Ceci, Chair of the Port of Huntsville Board of Directors. “Butch’s steady leadership has guided the Port of Huntsville through a period of tremendous growth and opportunity. Through strategic planning and sound business judgment, Butch has ensured that the Port of Huntsville can keep up with the needs of our fast-growing community. The culture he has built will continue to keep customer service at the forefront of our core values. The Board congratulates him on his well-earned retirement.”

Chief Executive Officer Butch Roberts

Under Roberts’ tenure as CEO, the Port of Huntsville obtained a license from the Federal Aviation Administration to land a commercial space vehicle at the Airport; was named the # 1 Best Small Airport in the U.S. in the Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025); added nonstop flights to Tampa, Orlando, Las Vegas, New York City, Fort Lauderdale and Gulf Shores; welcomed ultra-low cost carrier Allegiant Air; and increased passenger traffic by over 40%. Roberts oversaw the successful completion of many significant capital improvement projects including a $12 million expansion and renovation of Signature Aviation; the construction of a 111,000-square-foot maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility; extensive renovations to the concourse and terminal building totaling over $25 million; and transformative renovations to the Airport’s food, beverage, and retail concessions including the opening of the Airport’s first Starbucks. Additionally under Roberts’ leadership, the Port of Huntsville broke ground on a new $16.5 million Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Station and a $59 million parking garage addition.

“It has been a distinct honor to serve the Port of Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley region for over four decades,” said Roberts. “I am fortunate to have had a long and deeply rewarding career here at the Port of Huntsville. I am very grateful to the Board of Directors for giving me the opportunity to serve as CEO, and I am proud of the Port of Huntsville team and the accomplishments we have achieved together. After careful consideration and planning, I am ready to retire knowing that I am leaving the Port of Huntsville team in capable hands under the leadership of Amy Murphree.”

Amy Murphree

Murphree holds a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Alabama School of Law, a Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law, and a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama. In 2025, she earned the highest professional mark in the aviation industry, the Accredited Airport Executive (“A.A.E.”) designation from the American Association of Airport Executives. Murphree was selected to be a member of the Airports Council International – North America Legal Affairs Steering Group, and she has been an active participant in that group for several years. Murphree is a graduate of the Leadership Greater Huntsville Flagship Program, Class L-36.

“As the Chief Legal Officer for the Port of Huntsville, Amy has worked alongside Butch in all facets of the Port of Huntsville’s operations,” Ceci said. “Amy’s qualifications, experience, and demonstrated leadership abilities make her an excellent choice for CEO. The Board has the utmost confidence in Amy’s ability to lead the Port of Huntsville to even greater successes in the future.”

“We have an incredible team of talented, dedicated professionals here at the Port of Huntsville, and I am truly honored and grateful to the Board for giving me the opportunity to lead that team,” Murphree said. “I am excited to begin work on a new Master Plan that will ensure that the Port of Huntsville meets the needs of our community for many years to come. With the economic growth our community is experiencing, the future is bright for the Port of Huntsville.”