Craig Field Executive Director Ryan Corrigan resigns

Ryan J. Corrigan has resigned as executive director of the Craig Field Airport and Industrial Authority, less than a year after taking over.

Corrigan, a retired colonel in the Air Force, will leave effective June 15 to accept a senior position related to national security.

Corrigan said on Monday that the position has already had interest from many candidates from across the country. 

“I submit this resignation with a heavy heart and deep reluctance,” Corrigan said. “I have loved serving Selma and Craig Field, but at this critical time for our nation, I have answered the call to serve in a civilian capacity that supports America’s national objectives."

Corrigan has agreed to manage a smooth transition and handed duties to the Deputy Director while overseeing the recruitment of his successor. He will remain available remotely for advice and support as long as needed.

Corrigan took over the top job at Craig Field in September from his father, Jim Corrigan, who led the operation for seven years before retiring.

In an interview with the Black Belt News Network in March, Ryan Corrigan outlined plans for Craig Field's future. He told the Rotary Club of Selma on Monday that the plan is solid and was set by his father and worthy of continuing.

Corrigan said the decision was driven by what he called a moral responsibility.

“I had a moral decision that I had to make recently,” Corrigan explained. “I left a position when I retired with a certain skill set and a desire to take care of our airmen downrange. Recently I was asked to come back and fill a position that’s important to national security.”

Corrigan said he will be serving in an administrative capacity, advising and assisting the Air Force as global tensions rise. “I’m going to go help on the administrative side,” he said. “Just doing anything and everything I can do, to influence and help folks make informed decisions over there and be a little bit more effective.”

Despite the new role, Corrigan made clear that his commitment to Selma and Craig Field remains strong. “This is my hometown. I love it here,” he said. “I am not stepping away from Selma, Alabama. I am stepping away temporarily to go do something that I think I have the ability to provide a positive impact in on a broader scale.”

Corrigan said Craig Field is positioned for continued growth, with major initiatives already underway and a long-term vision firmly in place. He credited both his predecessor, his father Jim Corrigan, and the board for helping build a foundation that he believes will continue to attract industry and create jobs.

“We’ve got that foundation in place,” he said. “I think it’s a modern-day approach to casting a wider net to go get some of these major corporations interested in Craig.”

Among the most ambitious projects is the development of the Greater Alabama Fly-In and the Greater Alabama Air Show, events Corrigan believes will inspire young people and showcase the region’s aviation potential. “We’re going to inspire the young kids out here to start taking a look at what their opportunities are,” he said, pointing to programs at Wallace Community College, the Advanced ATC Air Traffic Control School, and the flight school.

He also highlighted opportunities for residents who may not pursue aviation, noting the commercial driver’s license program and pilot car program available at Craig. “We’re going to inspire them to think big and to dream big,” he said.

Corrigan stressed that none of these initiatives will slow down after his departure. He has already begun organizing the search for his successor and plans to forward a wide pool of applicants to the board. “I want to cast a wide net and bring in the highest level of talent we can find,” he said. “I’m going to set them up for success.”

Even from afar, Corrigan said he will remain available as a technical adviser, especially for aviation events. 

He also expressed confidence in the community’s ability to continue moving forward, adding the importance of collaboration between the city, county, and Craig Field. “This place has so much potential,” he said. “Let’s sit down and hash it out and find out where our top three align and let’s focus on those first. That is the way we make this place better.”

Corrigan said he will continue to advocate for Selma and support the air show community, which has already shown strong interest in Craig Field. He noted that representatives from the International Council of Air Shows and Air Show 360 have visited and were impressed by the turnout at Wallace Community College’s Aviation Day, when 17 of 31 aircraft flew in, despite poor weather. “They go, wow, that’s pretty impressive,” he said. “And I told them, that’s not us. That is the aviators that want to come in and support this area.”

As he prepares to transition into his new role, Corrigan said his passion for aviation and for inspiring young people remains unchanged. “My passion is airplanes and my passion is growing kids,” he said. “We want to get them looking up when they’re in third grade going, I can do that.”

He added that while he hates to leave, he believes Craig Field is on the right trajectory. “There are plenty of talented people out there who can continue to move that football down the field,” he said. “Nothing is going to slow down.”

Corrigan’s final message to Selma was one of optimism and unity. “Let’s put our heads together and make this work,” he said. “We can. And we’ll continue to move the ball forward doing it.”