Home Executive Certificate Community Christopher Girdwood

Christopher Girdwood

Profile Info

CEO

Detroit Region Aerotropolis Development Corp

United States

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophergirdwood/

Certificates Completed

Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation

Bio

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.

Certificates Completed

Strategy and Innovation

Courses Completed

Digital Business

Digital Strategies for Transforming Your Business

Digital Business & IT

Operations

Strategy & Innovation

EARN 2.0 EEUs
Digital Strategies for Transforming Your Business
In Person

STARTING

Oct 2–3, 2025

LOCATION

Cambridge, MA

DURATION

2 days

COMMITMENT

8 hours/day

TUITION

$4,700

STARTING

Oct 2–3, 2025

LOCATION

Cambridge, MA

DURATION

2 days

COMMITMENT

8 hours/day

TUITION

$4,700

Explore
Strategy and Innovation

Developing and Managing a Successful Technology Strategy

Digital Business & IT

Strategy & Innovation

EARN 2.0 EEUs
Developing and Managing a Successful Technology Strategy
In Person

STARTING

Oct 23–24, 2025

LOCATION

Cambridge, MA

DURATION

2 days

COMMITMENT

8 hours/day

TUITION

$4,700

STARTING

Oct 23–24, 2025

LOCATION

Cambridge, MA

DURATION

2 days

COMMITMENT

8 hours/day

TUITION

$4,700

Explore
Strategy and Innovation

Implementing Enterprise-Wide Transformation

Operations

Organizations & Leadership

Strategy & Innovation

EARN 2.0 EEUs
Implementing Enterprise-Wide Transformation
In Person

STARTING

Sep 23–24, 2025

LOCATION

Cambridge, MA

DURATION

2 days

COMMITMENT

8 hours/day

TUITION

$4,700

STARTING

Sep 23–24, 2025

LOCATION

Cambridge, MA

DURATION

2 days

COMMITMENT

8 hours/day

TUITION

$4,700

Explore
Management and Leadership

Leading Organizations for High Velocity Performance

Operations

Organizations & Leadership

Systems Thinking

EARN 2.0 EEUs
Leading Organizations for High Velocity Performance
Self-Paced Online

STARTING

Sep 4–Nov 13, 2025

LOCATION

Online

DURATION

6 weeks

COMMITMENT

4–6 hours/week

TUITION

$2,950

STARTING

Sep 4–Nov 13, 2025

LOCATION

Online

DURATION

6 weeks

COMMITMENT

4–6 hours/week

TUITION

$2,950

Nov 13, 2025–Jan 8, 2026

Online

6 weeks

4–6 hours/week

$2,950

STARTING

Nov 13, 2025–Jan 8, 2026

LOCATION

Online

DURATION

6 weeks

COMMITMENT

4–6 hours/week

TUITION

$2,950

Mar 12–Apr 30, 2026

Online

6 weeks

4–6 hours/week

$2,950

STARTING

Mar 12–Apr 30, 2026

LOCATION

Online

DURATION

6 weeks

COMMITMENT

4–6 hours/week

TUITION

$2,950

Jun 11–Jul 30, 2026

Online

6 weeks

4–6 hours/week

$2,950

STARTING

Jun 11–Jul 30, 2026

LOCATION

Online

DURATION

6 weeks

COMMITMENT

4–6 hours/week

TUITION

$2,950

Explore