Who is Dr. Marshall J. Taggart?

Dr. Marshall J. Taggart, Jr. is a visionary leader, strategist, and public servant whose career spans over three decades at the intersection of aviation, municipal government, higher education, and community advocacy. Defined by a commitment to operational excellence and transformative leadership, Dr. Taggart has spent his career building resilient teams, driving high-stakes public-private partnerships, and guiding major public institutions through complex, high-impact growth.

 

His executive trajectory reflects a steady rise through some of the nation’s most vital transportation and civic hubs. As the first African-American Executive Airport Director and CEO of the Montgomery Regional Airport, he managed multi-million-dollar operational budgets while steering the airport to perfect FAA safety scores. His aviation leadership footprint extends across the country—from managing executive operations and concessions across Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway International Airports to leading key strategic initiatives at Tallahassee International Airport and DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Georgia. Today, Dr. Taggart channels that vast public sector experience into higher education as the Associate Vice President for Governmental Affairs & Community Relations at Clark Atlanta University, where he shapes the institution's strategic legislative agenda and strengthens critical institutional partnerships at the local, state, and federal levels.

 

Dr. Taggart’s professional success is rooted in a deep academic foundation built entirely at Clark Atlanta University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting (Cum Laude), a Master of Public Administration (Summa Cum Laude), and a Ph.D. in Political Science. This rare combination of financial acumen, policy expertise, and executive experience informs every initiative he leads.

 

Beyond the boardroom, Dr. Taggart is a dedicated civic leader passionate about youth mentorship, community empowerment, and building future pipelines of talent. He is a distinguished member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., where he served as the immediate past president of the South Fulton Alphas and was honored as Alumni Brother of the Year. He also actively serves on the Board of Directors for the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc., leading efforts in economic empowerment and educational mentorship, and holds active memberships in Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (Alpha Zeta Boulé) and the National Forum for Black Public Administrators. Through every chapter of his career, Dr. Taggart remains dedicated to turning opportunity into action and creating lasting progress for the organizations and communities he serves.