The city of San Antonio has appointed Retired Air Force Gen. Russell Handy as its new aviation director.
Handy will oversee day-to-day operations at San Antonio International (SAT) and Stinson Municipal (SSF). His top priorities will be expanding air service at SAT, enhancing the customer experience and overseeing major construction projects, including the construction of a consolidated rental car facility slated for completion before the end of 2017.
Handy comes to the job with nearly 35 years of military and aviation experience. He recently retired from the Air Force, having served as the commander of the Alaskan Region of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. He also has served as the commander of the Alaskan Command and the Eleventh Air Force.
He is a command pilot. Handy flew numerous combat operations and deployments, including in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Desert Fox and Iraqi Freedom, and he has received numerous military honors.
The San Antonio Airport System has an economic impact of more than $5.2 billion annually and supports more than 100,000 jobs in the region.
