Christopher (Chris) Girdwood leads the Detroit Region Aerotropolis, which is a four-community economic development partnership driving corporate expansion and new investment around Detroit Metro and Willow Run Airports. The Aerotropolis is the premiere location for greenfield expansion in Southeast Michigan, offering 6,000 acres of development-ready land centered in a world-class network of transportation infrastructure.
In addition, Chris is actively working with community partners to build rudimentary highways in the sky for advanced air mobility. The goal of this work is to build a more seamless logistics and distribution infrastructure to support the movement of high-value cargo in Aerotropolis.
Previously, Chris worked to grow a 1,500-acre Innovation Park in Northern Virginia by attracting and expanding biotechnology, life science, and high-risk capital to the region. This unique university-centered model for economic development included the Prince William Science Accelerator (9 wet labs) where Chris led the tenant recruitment, technical assistance, and graduation effort. His economic development experience also includes working for the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation in California, and as a Senior Associate with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in Washington, D.C. Early in his career he supported the warfighter with the U.S. Department of Defense.
Chris attended Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Harvard Kennedy School. He holds one utility patent he and plans to invent new technologies throughout his life. He lives in Metro Detroit with his wife, daughters, and son.
