Jesse Romo
Director of Airports
Wichita Airport Authority
Wichita, KS USA
“At the end of the day, we’re all human and we want two things: to be understood and appreciated.”
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By Roadtrip NationJesse Romo
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
After high school, I took some time off from school to work but eventually realized that I’d need a degree for the things I wanted to do.
I enrolled in a junior college and got my associates degree in liberal arts, then transferred to UCLA where I earned my bachelor’s degree in sociology.
I started my career in a human resources role before being recruited into retail—I was on a great career path in retail but after the September 11 attacks, I wanted to do something more.
I decided to go to graduate school and earned my MBA with a focus in aviation and a specialization in human resource management.
I got my first airport experience at the Burbank Airport in Los Angeles, California, where I started as an airport management intern and worked my way up to business analyst.
I worked for the Kansas Department of Transportation for about eight years, starting in the office of management and budget and then moving into aviation, ultimately becoming the director of aviation.
In 2015, I was named airport director at Manhattan Regional Airport in Manhattan, Kansas.
I worked at Manhattan Regional Airport for about six years before becoming director of airports for Wichita, Kansas.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Certification/License
Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.)
American Association of Airport Executives
Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.)
American Association of Airport Executives
Certification/License
Commercial Pilot, Instrument Rating
Commercial Pilot, Instrument Rating
Career
Director of Airports
I set the strategic direction for airports in the Air Capital of the World, Wichita, Kansas.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Business
Government
Accomplishing Goals
Day to Day
The beauty of airport life is that no two days are exactly alike. I can spend a day doing community outreach type activities, including recruiting and negotiating new development deals. While the next day I may be pulled into several staff meetings, providing guidance on policy issues or planning projects. I have a great team of managers in place that continue to do a great job, so at times I just need to support them and make sure they have the tools necessary to achieve success.
Interviewed By
Paths Across Kansas
Explore career possibilities in Wichita and other nearby regions
