Chris Crist leads the charge as CIO at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, overseeing one of the world’s most complex IT environments. With over 300,000 daily passengers and tens of thousands of staff relying on continuous, secure infrastructure, Chris operates at the intersection of physical engineering, cybersecurity, and innovation. From rolling out a $110 million fiber loop to implementing facial recognition at international gates, his role is anything but traditional.
In this episode, Chris breaks down the balancing act of building technology for today while planning for the decade ahead.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- Why IT must be embedded into every airport construction project
- How Atlanta’s fiber loop project adds real-world resilience to core systems
- The evolving role of biometrics in streamlining international boarding
- What makes cybersecurity unique for large airports
- Why real-world redundancy testing is a high-stakes necessity
- How computer vision and AI are shaping the future of physical security
- The personal pressures and growth mindset required to lead in such a dynamic environment
In this episode…
When most people think of an airport, they picture terminals and gates. Chris Crist sees a city with its own infrastructure, challenges, and tempo—one that runs 24/7 and can’t afford downtime. In this conversation, he walks us through the airport’s ambitious new fiber loop project, a $110M initiative designed to create redundancy across systems that power everything from Wi-Fi and CCTV to badge access and parking.
But infrastructure is only one part of the equation. Chris discusses how biometric boarding is gaining traction beyond Delta, soon expanding across all international gates. He explains how facial recognition, backed by Customs and Border Protection, not only accelerates boarding but enhances security—allowing for a smoother, more intelligent travel experience.
On the cybersecurity side, Chris is refreshingly candid about the pressure. From real-time threats to massive surface exposure, the airport’s IT systems are a prime target. His response? Run penetration tests, invite third-party audits, and even shut down critical concourses overnight to validate failovers. It’s an aggressive approach, but one he believes is necessary to build true resilience.
Chris also opens up about the real-life challenge of staying ahead in a space evolving at breakneck speed. With AI, autonomous vehicles, computer vision, and smarter surveillance systems all on the horizon, he talks about what it means to lead a tech strategy that can scale with the future of aviation.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Matthew Connor on LinkedInCyberLynx
Chris Crist on LinkedIn
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Website
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