Gov. Hogan names new CEO for BWI Airport, fires veteran chief executive

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has fired the chief executive of Thurgood Marshall Baltimore-Washington International Airport and replaced him with the director of Cleveland's airport.

Hogan announced Friday that Ricky D. Smith had been named airport CEO and head of the Maryland Aviation Administration. Smith led Cleveland's Hopkins International Airport since 2006. He was previously operations chief at BWI.

A spokeswoman for Hogan says the governor believes Smith has the vision and expertise to build on BWI's growth. The CEO position pays $294,304.

Smith replaces Paul Wiedefeld, who led Baltimore's airport since 2009 and from 2002 to 2005. Wiedefeld says he was asked to leave.

BWI is the nation's No. 22 airport by passenger count. It has steadily grown and increased its international traffic 22 percent over the last year.