![\"AOC](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1920_aoc3.jpg\")
\u201cThey\u2019ve been called the heartbeat of the Airport,\u201d Renza explained. \u201cWe get calls for fuel spills, medicals, shuttles down, or anything going on in the Airport.\u201d<\/p>\nThis week, Tampa International Airport is celebrating National Telecommunicators Week, a time to recognize the dedicated men and women who serve as the vital link between the public, Operations, and emergency response teams. At TPA, those professionals are the dispatchers inside the Airport Operations Center (AOC), often referred to as the Airport\u2019s \u201cnerve center.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kelly Renza, Senior Manager of the AOC\u2019s Operations team, oversees the dispatchers responsible for keeping the Airport running smoothly around the clock.<\/p>\n
\u201cDispatchers are one of those groups that sometimes get forgotten about,\u201d Renza said. \u201cThey hold a very important role in nearly every part of the Airport, whether you\u2019re outside on the runway or inside one of our terminals. They\u2019re the ones taking customer service calls, emergency calls, or any type of call for service.\u201d<\/p>\n
The AOC operates 24\/7 with a staff of 36 dispatchers and supervisors, 18 in Operations and 18 in Public Safety. The teams work in shifts that cover every hour of every day. Together, they handle thousands of calls ranging from routine maintenance issues to emergencies requiring immediate response.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been called the heartbeat of the Airport,\u201d Renza explained. \u201cWe get calls for fuel spills, medicals, shuttles down, or anything going on in the Airport.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those responders might be Airport Police, ARFF firefighters, maintenance crews, or custodial teams, depending on the situation. The AOC fields calls from both Airport staff and passengers, sometimes frantic, sometimes confused, and often grateful.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe get everything from \u2018When does my flight leave?\u2019 to \u2018I left my bag at security,\u2019 to \u2018There\u2019s a spill in the restroom,\u2019\u201d Renza said. \u201cAnd sometimes, it\u2019s a medical emergency or a lost child. No two calls are ever the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
The AOC\u2019s advanced technology and prime location give the team a panoramic view of Airport operations. But the job is far from easy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of noise to get used to,\u201d Renza said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got alarms going off, fire alarms, shuttle alarms, and 911 calls coming in, sometimes all at once.\u201d<\/p>\n
During major events such as hurricanes or power outages, the AOC becomes a hub of coordinated activity. \u201cA power outage can be very stressful,\u201d Renza noted. \u201cYou\u2019re getting all parties involved across the Airport, with officers working with Operations to check doors and ensure security. There are flashing strobes, elevated radio traffic, and it\u2019s all hands on deck.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the intensity, Renza describes the AOC team as a close-knit family.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re very strong, very dedicated, just a wonderful, talented family,\u201d she said. \u201cThey spend a lot of time together and work together so well. They always make sure the top priority is taking care of our passengers and guests.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Airport Operations Supervisor\u00a0Alana Geil, who has been with the AOC for four years, that sense of teamwork and variety is what makes the job so rewarding. \u201cI enjoy that not every day is the same,\u201d Geil said. \u201cThere are so many things to do, and the industry is always evolving with new steps forward for safety and training. There\u2019s always something to learn and create.\u201d<\/p>\n
Geil described her role as a \u201cfun and unique opportunity to learn everything you can about an Airport\u201d and said that being at the center of operations keeps the job exciting. \u201cWe\u2019re frontline and center, responding to different issues whether that\u2019s maintenance or an aircraft alert,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s truly a rewarding job.\u201d<\/p>\n
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