Terrance Ward’s experience includes seven years of active duty with the Army and Air Force.
At 28 years old, Sidney-Richland County Airport manager Terrance Ward hardly looks like someone in such an important position. But don’t let his youthful appearance fool you. The seven-year active duty Army and Air Force Purdue graduate, currently in the reserves, knows what he is doing.
“I’m not new to this,” Ward said with a laugh. “I have a degree in airport management. As a pilot, I have insight into how the airfield works and I’m familiar with aviation in general. I did similar work in the military. I managed a lot of personnel and as an officer we manage inventory, the airport, the airfield. I thought it was a good transition.”
His office walls are lined with flying certificates of different aircraft, airplane and helicopter cockpit posters and models of aircraft he has flown in his career. His reserve uniform hangs in the corner, ready to go whenever needed.
Ward took his current position in March, barely two weeks off of active duty, he said. An Indianapolis native, he has spent the last several years overseas in the most populated cities in the world.
“I was in Turkey, Saudi Arabia,” he listed. “When I was in Istanbul there was like 30 million people, Bangladesh, there were 55 million people. (Sidney is) a smaller city. It’s different but the people are nice and I’ve enjoyed it.”
As airport manager, he is in charge of the day-to-day safety and operations of the airport, he said. His day begins at the Fairview airport at 6 a.m. every morning, where he goes through a safety checklist, Sidney is next, usually around 8 a.m., he said. Safety checks include fencing, wildlife, cones, checking for EPA and OSHA regulations, degraded pavement, standing water
Throughout the rest of the day, jobs include working with the TSA contractor, wildlife hazard management and working on airport improvements.
“I’m here to make sure the airport follows all the laws and we continue to maintain funding,” Ward said. “I spend all my time at the airport. I try not to go past 12 hours a day, but there are so many variables. If it snows at 2 a.m. we’re going to be out here to make sure the runway is clear and safe.”
Improvements that Ward is currently working on include adding a new taxiway, a ramp area, an improved parking lot and new hangars, all of which are geared toward adding new business to the airport. However, he is also working on side projects to get the community more involved with its airport.
“We’re growing at a small rate, but we’re doing the best we can to keep the airport well known,” he said. “Right now, we’re working on an art project with the high school. (Students) will create art that will go in our hallways. It will help get the community involved and aware of the airport.”
Ward noted that another part of his position is working with the hospital board, which meets once a month. He has to provide spending and progress reports each month to the board. As a public entity he encouraged those with thoughts on the airport to attend the meeting.
“(The board has) been very helpful,” he said. “We’re taxpayer funded, so we try to be as responsible as possible and as available as we can. Anyone can come out if they have concerns...and provide feedback for where they’d like to see the airport go. We want to work with everyone.”
As a kid, Ward said he wanted to be an astronaut. It’s why he went to Purdue and joined the Air Force. As a reserve pilot, he still goes to Chicago once a month to fly Blackhawk Helicopters and C12 airplanes.
“Luckily they gave me an opportunity to transition (back to civilian life),” he said. “I still enjoy serving. That’s why I’m a reserve officer.”
- Source: http://www.sidneyherald.com
No comments:
Post a Comment