Innovation Section receives award for wildlife excellence
 From left: Dave Decoteau, Deputy Director; Ricky Buchanan, Business Analyst and Vanessa Chin, Innovation Section Manager, at King County International Airport.
King County International Airport recently received an award from United States Department of Agriculture’s Washington State office for a project promoting wildlife excellence. Dave Decoteau, deputy director of the airport, accepted the award on KCIA’s behalf at the 2024 Washington Airport Management Association Annual Conference in May.
The airport’s Innovation Section received the award for partnering with USDA to develop the Wildlife Hazard Assessment Tool (WHAT) application.
“It is an application for capturing wildlife observations on our airfield,” said Vanessa Chin, Innovation Section Manager for the airport. “This tool will help provide USDA and our airport with information and trends on wildlife (like birds, bunnies, etc.) to help us better understand our options to deter or migrate wildlife away from airside.”
“The Washington State USDA has been looking for a while to manage wildlife data across all airports in the state,” Chin said. “Ultimately, life safety is our highest concern, casualties may occur if a plane ingests a bird.”
Chin and Laurence Schafer, USDA Wildlife Services WA Airport Coordinator and Staff Wildlife Biologist, developed the vision for a new application. Christopher Lang, USDA Biologist, built the app, which is now in the testing phase, working with Ricky Buchanan, Business Analyst at KCIA, to see how it works at KCIA.
“We’re the test bed for USDA to try out this application, and if it’s a success at our airport, then they’re going to use that model to then share it out to others in the state,” Buchanan explained.
KCIA may be the first urban airport to test such an app, Buchanan said. He said that the USDA has worked with rural areas in Alaska on a similar project.
“They’re really happy to get us involved because we’re a major hub airport in a big city,” Buchanan said.
Save the date for the Seafair air show
 Above, one of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels F-18 Super Hornets during last year's festivities. Photo by Annie Flodin.
King County International Airport is again hosting the U.S. Navy Blue Angels for the Boeing Seafair Air Show during Seattle’s 75th annual Seafair Weekend. Seafair weekend runs Friday, August 2 Sunday, August 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all days. Get more details on the Seafair schedule, which includes the airshow over Lake Washington and the hydroplane races on the lake.
New this year, the public can get tickets to the “Blue Angels Walk Down” at the airport, a way to get an up-close view of the Blue Angels pilots and their planes.
FOD Walk, Community Airport Day set for July 20
The airport’s fourth annual FOD Walk has been set for July 20 from 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. starting outside the main entrance of the Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way South. The FOD Walk provides an opportunity for airport tenants, employees and guests to walk the runway while picking up Foreign Object Debris (FOD). Small debris and other loose objects can be hazardous to aircraft and the FOD Walk is a part of the airport’s larger FOD control program.
Leasing opportunity available in September
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A leasehold of approximately 171,000 square feet will be available starting September 1 at King County International Airport. The property is exclusively available for commercial or non-commercial aeronautical uses. Please contact Gil White at gil.white@kingcounty.gov if interested. |
Airport recruits future airport staff at Women in Trades Fair
 Sandi Trevino, Crew Chief; Dominique Thomas, Intern; Alec Chandler, Fiscal Specialist III; and Brittney Marzest, DES HR Analyst at the Women in Trades Fair on May 3.
Employees from King County International Airport joined departments from around the county at the 43rd annual Washington Women in Trades Fair on May 3. Along with the airport, employees from Facilities Management, Fleet Services and the Director’s Office represented the Department of Executive Services.
Staff from various public and private organizations connected with middle and high school aged students from across the region. They provided opportunities for students to learn more about careers in the skilled trades.
Washington Women in Trades also proclaimed May 3, 2024, as “Official King County Day” in recognition of the county’s longtime support of the event, with Assistant County Executive Whitney Abrams accepting the award on behalf of the county. The county has participated in 42 of the 43 fairs.
Scott Muirhead promoted to Shop Supervisor
Congratulations to Scott Muirhead who recently received a promotion to Shop Supervisor in the airport’s Maintenance Section.
“He competed for the shop supervisor role against a very talented pool of candidates and demonstrated he is the right person for the job,” said Raleigh Salazar, Maintenance Supervisor.
Muirhead will handle day to day shop supervision, help Salazar with planning and staff development, and work as the airport’s fleet manager coordinating with Fleet Services.
Muirhead joined Airport Maintenance 18 months ago as a skilled and experienced Heavy Equipment Operator.
“He’s been someone we can count on to work well with others, get jobs organized and have a good grasp of the day-to-day operation. I really appreciate his calm, organized and steady style,” Salazar said.
He has more than 20 years of public service in maintenance organizations and as many in snow and ice operations.
As part of his development plan at KCIA, Muirhead pursued his International Aerodrome Certified Employee (IACE) certification through the American Association of Airport Executives. Later, in preparation for deploying the airport’s new snow fleet, he trained with the snow teams at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. He came back and trained the other operators and shared tactics he learned with the whole team.
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Anders McAllister earns ACE
Congratulations to Anders McCallister, undergraduate intern in Operations, who recently earned his Airport Certified Employee or “ACE” designation in Airfield Operations from the American Association of Airport Executives.
"What makes this even more impressive is that Anders took self-initiative in participating in this certification program, while managing his daily workload of studies at the University of Washington," said his supervisor, Sean Moran, Airport Operations Manager.
The exam covers a wide range of topics including Federal Regulations Pertaining to Airport Certification, Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting, Wildlife Hazard Management, and Airfield Construction regulations.
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Airport internship program receives WAMA grant
King County International Airport received a $1,000 Internship Grant from the Washington Airport Management Association (WAMA). This grant will be used to help provide additional aviation-specific training to KCIA’s seven interns during the 2024-2025 internship program at the airport.
Welcome to new (and returning!) interns at the airport
Dominique Thomas
Assistant Contract Specialist Intern
Freshman, South Seattle College
Dominique Thomas is currently interning as an Assistant Contract Specialist at KCIA under Ginny Justiniano's mentorship. She joined the airport in late March and will be in her internship through September. Her internship is sponsored by the Year Up Program at South Seattle College.
“I assist with library organization, streamline standard work processes, and deepen my understanding of active contracts,” Thomas said. “I aim to build a solid foundation in procurement during this internship.”
“If you see me in the office, please feel free to say hello,” Thomas said. “I'm excited to learn and contribute!”
Thomas has an older sister and younger brother. In her free time she enjoys singing, fitness, and hiking.
Above photo: Left, Dominique Thomas, Assistant Contract Specialist Intern, with Ginny Justiniano, Contract Specialist
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Ella Wilson
Innovation CAD Intern
Junior, Roosevelt High School
Ella Wilson returns to KCIA as an Innovation CAD Intern, the same position she had last year.
"I love everything about aviation and am beyond words excited to come back and work at KCIA!" Wilson said.
"I’m looking forward to getting to know everybody better this year and hopefully shadow some people," Wilson said. "I’m excited to drive around the airport and measure buildings with Brent!"
"My favorite memory at the BFI so far has to be doing CAD work on the roof while watching the sunset and UPS planes taking off but I hope to make so many more memories this year," she said.
Wilson aspires to work as a pilot or as a mission controller after college. While she hasn't yet decided on a major, she's considering an engineering-related field.
"I’m a soloed student pilot currently pursuing my private pilot's license down at Galvin in a C172," she added. "I hope to get my license before I graduate!"
Wilson likes to go flying on the weekends in her free time. She also enjoys going to local markets around Seattle.
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Strategic Plan Workshop meeting June 11
Do you want to have a say in the future of King County International Airport? You’re invited to upcoming meetings to help update the Airport Strategic Plan, which will outline strategies to help KCIA be a “World Class Aviation Facility.” Airport tenants, community members, and interested parties are welcome to participate in this virtual workshop.
Airport Strategic Plan Workshop 1: Mission, Vision, and Values
Airport Tenant and Community Meeting
Tuesday, June 11, 4-5:30 p.m.
Click here to register
Vision 2045 Airport Plan and Part 150 Study Open House
Learn more about the Vision 2045 Airport Plan and Part 150 Study at a public open house on June 20 from 6-7:30 p.m. The public open house will provide an opportunity to learn more about the Vision 2045 Airport Plan and Part 150 projects, share input on the draft Vision 2045 goals and objectives, ask questions and share comments with members from the project team. This is the first of several open houses that will be held throughout the project.
When: Thursday, June 20, 6-7:30 p.m.
Where: KCIA Flight Service Station, 6526 Ellis Ave. S., Seattle
Nearest transit stop: Ellis Avenue South & South Warsaw Street
KCIA hosts WAMA conference with a diversity focus
A record 200 attendees participated in the Washington Airport Management Association’s (WAMA) annual conference, hosted by King County International Airport (KCIA) in early May. The conference marked several “firsts,” including the first time KCIA hosted it.
“We took a significantly different approach,” to hosting the conference, said Dave Decoteau, deputy director of KCIA and president of WAMA. Decoteau, who is of Little Shell Chippewa Native American heritage, emphasizes equity throughout his airport leadership.
For example, recommending the Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn as the venue was a deliberate decision to embrace equity. Vanessa Chin, Innovation Section Manager at KCIA, chairs the new WAMA committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and helped lead the planning effort.
“When we started to think about hosting WAMA, since Boeing Field’s hosting it and we lead with equity, what better way to do that than honor a local tribe by hosting it at the Muckleshoot?” Chin said.
“A lot of our airports work with them,” Decoteau added. “It was important to us as an organization to support them and meet them in their house.”
At the Muckleshoot Casino, Chin and Cecelia Hayes, Equity, Social Justice, and Engagement Senior Practitioner for King County Department of Executive Services, welcomed conference participants. Hayes shared a message of resilience and optimism related to racial equity, focusing on the Leonard Cohen lyrics, “There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”
Decoteau introduced Warren King George, the Muckleshoot historian, who opened the conference with a tribal welcome. The tribe also did a prayer and a ceremonial performance during lunch featuring their canoe journey.
“Also, we had a session on partnerships with local tribes,” Chin said. “That’s not something that’s typically considered in a WAMA agenda.”
In addition, the program featured the King County Career Launchpad program, which helps 16- to 24-year-olds jump-start their careers. The airport has employed interns through the program, helping them gain valuable career skills. DES’ Finance, Business and Operations Division’s Business Development and Contract Compliance section also participated in the conference by hosting a booth.
Another new element in the conference was an invitation to airport organizations from Oregon, California and Idaho. Each organization sent representatives to share updates about their activities.
The conference’s inclusive approach was a concerted team effort to help share the county’s True North values with the broader aviation community.
Photo above: Dave Decoteau, deputy director at KCIA and president of WAMA, introduces a session about partnering with local tribes.
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Airport employees volunteer at Food Lifeline
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A group of airport employees volunteered at Food Lifeline on May 20. This was the airport’s third volunteer event at the non-profit, which has a mission to end hunger in Western Washington. Employees sorted and repacked 7,500 pounds of potatoes that will be delivered to food banks and shelters.
Photo, back row, left to right: Dominique Thomas, Alec Chandler, Tony Eayrs
Front row, left to right: Ginny Justiniano, Vanessa Chin and Derek Doell
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