McGee Air Services Makes Changes to Senior Leadership Team, Adds Michael Francis

McGee Air Services Inc. announced that the company is solidifying its senior leadership team by making the following adjustments:

• Ben Reed has been named Managing Director, Safety & Compliance
• Rachel Steitz has been named Managing Director, Station Operations – Seattle
• Michael Francis has been promoted to Managing Director, Station Operations (all other locations)

McGee is reinstating the position of Managing Director of Safety & Compliance, tapping Ben Reed to return to the role he held when he joined McGee in 2016. Since July 2017, Reed has overseen McGee’s service at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, helping establish McGee’s foothold in a busy and complex operation. He also has managed the company’s Paine Field (Everett, Wash.) operation, since service launched there in March 2019. Reed has been responsible for over 900 team members who provide ground handling and other services on more than 200 flights every day.

“We’re thrilled to have Ben back at our home office leading our safety and compliance division,” said Jason Berry, President of McGee Air Services. “Under Ben’s leadership, we will continue to enhance our organization’s safety culture and build on our strong compliance partnerships with customers.”

Rachel Steitz has assumed Reed’s previous position as Managing Director, Station Operations – Seattle. She possesses a wealth of operational experience and a knack for leveraging people’s talents to achieve results. Since McGee’s founding in 2016, Steitz has served as Managing Director of Operations, with responsibility for all ramp and fleet service operations in Phoenix, Portland, San Jose and San Francisco. She leaves behind a high-performing and safety-focused operational division.

“Rachel has shown great skill in growing and stabilizing stations,” Berry said. “Her process-driven mindset, deep understanding of our business, and commitment to safety will allow us to continue to evolve our largest location.”

Michael Francis has been promoted to Managing Director of Station Operations, replacing Steitz. Francis brings considerable operational and leadership experience, having worked for more than 15 years in commercial and private aviation. Most recently, he directed operations for McGee in San Francisco, and prior to that, was the station manager in San Jose. Francis began his career in Portland, Oregon with Evergreen Aviation, where he was an Operations Manager. While at Atlantic Aviation for nine years, he directed all aspects of corporate and privately owned aircraft handling as the Line Service Manager in Stockton, California. Francis acquired his bachelor’s degree in business management and his MBA from Grand Canyon University.

“Mike has been instrumental in our success in both San Jose and San Francisco, proving himself an effective leader, adept at building strong-performing and cohesive teams. He embodies our company values, and will be a fantastic addition to our senior leadership team,” Berry said.

McGee Air Services strives to deliver exceptional service to its customers by fostering a culture where people are valued and recognized. The changes announced today will further strengthen McGee’s close-knit senior leadership team, helping the company achieve this goal.