2019 Airport Business Top 40 Under 40: Chad A. Willis, A.A.E.
Taking flying lessons while in high school, Chad Willis originally envisioned himself as a commercial pilot, but new interest while in college pulled him elsewhere.
However, he never fully shook the aviation bug. While working for the U.S. Department of Defense in Afghanistan, Willis said he spent a lot of time on airfields waiting for flights or helicopter rides and soon found himself wanting to be back in the aviation field.
Willis is now the senior airport planner at the Sacramento County Department of Airports.
“I think the biggest thing for me is, I’m able to shape the future of all of our airports. I work on all the master plans, all the implementation of projects, so I really have an opportunity to have a pretty big influence on every aspect of all of our airports. And for me, at least, I think that that’s very exciting and seeing what’s coming in the future and putting my stamp on things,” Willis described.
In his role, Willis connects the operational needs of the airport with facility planning opportunities that are both affordable and implementable. Willis also serves on the ACI Environmental Affairs Committee as U.S. caucus vice chair and has participated in reviews of TRB Research Reports. Most recently, Willis became an accredited airport executive by AAAE.
“My career has taken a somewhat strange and meandering path that ultimately led me to the aviation industry. Ultimately, it was the right destination and I think my nontraditional path into airport planning has served me well,” Willis said.
