John Tiliacos is responsible for Airport Operations, Public Safety and Security, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, General Aviation Airports, Human Capital Management, and Safety and Enterprise Risk Management.

A 39-year airline and airport industry veteran with extensive experience in airline and airport operations, Tiliacos previously served as Managing Director for American Airlines in Los Angeles, where he was responsible for leading one of American’s largest operations. 

Tiliacos began his airline career in 1985 as the General Manager for Trans World Airlines in the Bahamas. After joining American Airlines in 1990, he quickly moved up the ranks, holding management positions in The Bahamas, and across multiple U.S. markets including Texas, New Orleans, Chicago, Florida, Los Angeles, and the Northeast.

He has served as American’s Managing Director for Flight Service Operations in the Northeast with responsibility for more than 5,000 flight crew based at Boston Logan, New York’s JFK and LaGuardia Airports, and Reagan Washington National Airport. He also served as American’s Managing Director of Food & Beverage Operations, Inflight Products and Cabin Design.  Tiliacos also led American’s worldwide cargo operations as Vice President of Cargo Operations, overseeing the global implementation of 100-percent cargo security screening on American’s fleet of aircraft as mandated by the federally appointed 9/11 Commission.

Since joining the TPA’s Executive Team in 2011, Tiliacos has successfully led some of the Airport’s largest and most complex operations, raising the bar on operational, safety and security, and world-class customer experience results. He led the Airport’s first Concessions Redevelopment Program that produced 70 new food and beverage and retail concessions, implemented one of the first Remote Bag Check operations in the U.S. at TPA’s new Rental Car Center and launched the COVID-19 Passenger Testing Pilot, a first in the United States. Tiliacos also led the Congressionally mandated U.S. Customs and Border Protection Biometrics project and has led the effort on numerous airport safety and security enhancements. 

Tiliacos is a graduate of The Florida Institute of Technology, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management.  He is also a private pilot and holds a commercial pilot certificate for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. John is married to his wife Jackie and they have 3 children.

Brian Giuliani is Chief Operating Officer for Port Tampa Bay. Brian is responsible for overseeing all cargo & cruise operations throughout the port and provides operational support to our team to help promote and grow the port business. Brian works closely with the port’s terminal operating partners and the various regulatory & protective agencies to ensure all port operations are done efficiently, safely, in accordance with government regulations, and meeting customer requirements.

Mr. Giuliani has over 25 years of experience in maritime port operations, including terminal, vessel, and warehouse operations. Prior to joining Port Tampa Bay in July, 2019, Brian served as Director of North American Ports for Del Monte Fresh Produce. While working with Del Monte, he held various management positions and made numerous contributions towards improving Del Monte’s supply chain operations, including his leadership role in transitioning their Northeast distribution network from a palletized breakbulk transportation model to a fully containerized model and creating the foundation for a transformation throughout North America.

Brian is a graduate of Rutgers University. He is President of Tampa Bay International Terminals and currently serves on all port committees such as Tampa Bay Harbor Safety & Security Committee (TBHSSC), Tampa Cooperative Safety & Security Committee (TCSS), Port Heavy Weather Advisory Group (PHWAG), Vessel Movement Committee (VMC), and the Greater Tampa Bay Marine Advisory Council PORTS.

Captain Matt Thompson is responsible for facilitating cargo and cruise operations throughout the port area, by water, land or rail. He is also responsible for ensuring public terminal facilities are operated efficiently and professionally and in keeping with regulations. Additionally, he works closely with the security, facilities and business development teams to continue to expand the port and our operations.

Matt previously served as Port Tampa Bay’s Director of Cruise Operations & Emergency Management. Prior to that, Captain Thompson has over 30-years of experience in maritime operations and emergency management. Before joining Port Tampa Bay in 2022, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard as Sector Commander of the St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay Area, Captain of the Port, Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection, Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, and Federal Maritime Security Coordinator, while directing all Coast Guard operations along the West Coast of Florida and throughout the Tampa Bay region.

He holds a Bachelor of Science from Excelsior College in Management, and a Joint Professional Military Education certification from the U.S. Air Force, Air Command and Staff College. Captain Matt Thompson was The Propeller Club Port of Tampa’s Maritime Person of the Year for 2022, and his military personal awards include: a Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, four Commendation Medals, and three Achievement Medals.

Justin Piazza is the Director of Enterprise Risk Management & Safety at the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, where he leads integrated risk and safety programs across Tampa International Airport and its general aviation airports.

He focuses on building a proactive, data-driven safety culture and advancing enterprise-wide risk strategies in a complex operational environment. Known for breaking down silos and driving practical solutions, Justin is passionate about shifting organizations from being the “Department of No” to the “Department of Know; empowering teams to identify, understand, and manage risk with confidence.

Emilio F. Salabarria is an experienced public safety and cybersecurity leader with more than three decades of service across emergency management, critical infrastructure protection, and incident response. He currently serves as Senior Cybersecurity Program Consultant at The Florida Center for Cybersecurity (Cyber Florida) at the University of Southy Florida, where he provides strategic guidance, subject-matter expertise, and leadership for the statewide resources and programs provided by Cyber Florida.

Before joining Cyber Florida, Emilio directed Emergency Management and Business Continuity for the Tampa Electric Company (TECO), overseeing regulatory compliance, crisis planning, ICS activations, and large-scale emergency operations. His career also includes global life safety leadership at the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) and safety and training oversight for the Tampa Port Authority (TPA).

Emilio spent nearly 30 years with Tampa Fire Rescue, rising to Division Fire Chief of Special Operations and leading specialized response teams, major event operations, and multi-agency coordination. He has taught crisis leadership and advanced emergency response courses at the University of South Florida and Hillsborough Community College and has contributed to national conferences, grant-funded projects, and industry publications.

He holds a Master of Science in Critical Incident Management from Saint Leo University a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwood University, graduating magna cum laude, and two Associate Degrees Fire Science and Emergency Medical Services from Hillsborough Community College.

Scotty Muller is an aviation operations leader with more than three decades of experience in the airline industry. He began his aviation career with United Parcel Service in 1989 as a Ramp Supervisor before joining Southwest Airlines in 1996 as a Ramp Agent. Throughout his career, he has held numerous leadership roles including Ramp Supervisor, Cargo Supervisor, Operations Supervisor, and Manager of Ramp and Operations in Tampa from 1996 to 2024.

Muller later served as Station Manager for the Miami station in 2024, Manager of Operations for the Orlando station in 2025, and currently serves as the Tampa Station Manager for Southwest Airlines Throughout each assignment, he has maintained a strong focus on safety, emphasizing vigilance, clear communication, accountability, and adherence to policy and procedure as the foundation of successful airport and airfield operations.

Colleen Brennan is the Airport Operations Emergency Manager for the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, where she leads emergency preparedness, response, and continuity programs to strengthen operational resilience. She oversees planning, training, and exercises that enhance coordination across airport teams and partner agencies. Colleen holds a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in homeland security.

Charlie Feldman is a 15-year law enforcement veteran and Sergeant with the Tampa Police Department. He oversees the department’s Marine Unit, Dive Team, and Aviation Unit, where he is responsible for the training, operational preparedness, and emergency response of all three specialized units. Sgt. Feldman also holds a bachelor’s degree in business management.

Dr. Manish Agrawal is a Professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida and an academic director at Cyber Florida. He is also the founder of EdVision, the company that is building bullsi, in collaboration with the Critical Infrastructure Protection program, led by Cyber Florida on behalf of the State of Florida.