SD Airport Appoints Rick Francis as SVP & COO

San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (Airport Authority) President and CEO Kimberly Becker is pleased to announce the appointment of Rick Francis as Vice President & Chief Operations Officer effective December 12. In this role, Mr. Francis is responsible for setting the strategic direction for terminal and airside operations, aviation security and public safety, ground transportation, and facilities maintenance functions at San Diego International Airport (SAN).  

“I am excited to welcome Rick to the Airport Authority,” said Ms. Becker. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role. As we continue building the New T1, his leadership will be an integral part of ensuring our operations remain focused on the customer experience as we navigate through the construction impacts to come.” 

“I am eager to hit the ground running at SAN and look forward to a long and productive partnership with my colleagues,” said Mr. Francis. “There is so much happening with the New T1 project, the completed terminal along with a new parking structure and other improvements around the airport campus will be spectacular! I feel very fortunate to come on board at such a pivotal time in this airport’s history.” 

Mr. Francis comes to SAN after serving as Assistant Director at John Wayne Airport for almost six years, including nearly one year as Interim Airport Director. In the role of Assistant Director, Mr. Francis was responsible for oversight of the overall operations of the airport including operations, maintenance, business development, finance, government affairs, noise abatement, facilities development, and airport rules and regulations. His accomplishments at John Wayne Airport include the development of new concessions, managing certain lease negotiations, and providing oversight in the preparation of comprehensive financial reports and the annual budget.  

Before his work at John Wayne Airport, Mr. Francis was Assistant City Manager for the City of Costa Mesa where he provided leadership and supervision of the City’s executive management team and consulted closely with the City Manager on the implementation of department programs and planning long-range strategic goals. He also served as Chief of Staff for Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach, whose district included John Wayne Airport, reviewing policy, budget, and development at the airport for the County Supervisor’s Office. 

Mr. Francis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Education from the Vanguard University of Southern California and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from American Public University.