Zachary Bass named Redmond Airport director

The city of Redmond said Friday it has promoted Zachary Bass to the position of Director of Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM). Bass succeeds Jeffery Tripp, who resigned from the position last summer.

“Mr. Bass’ leadership skills and management background provide him with the tools he needs to oversee this critical part of the Redmond organization,” Redmond City Manager Keith Witcosky said in announcing the promotion.

“During his time with us, he has demonstrated the right combination of strategic decision-making, team-building and passion for the aviation industry, making him the right choice for the Redmond Municipal Airport.”

Bass, originally hired as the airport’s business operations manager, will earn a yearly salary of $102,336 in his new position, Witcosky said.

“I’m very confident in Zach’s ability to lead the Airport through its upcoming highly complex construction projects such as the runway rehabilitation and the new Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center,” said Marc Henegar, chair of the Redmond Airport Committee. “He has the support of City Council, airport staff, the Airport Committee and other key stakeholders.”

Prior to being hired by the city of Redmond last year, Bass spent nine years in the U.S. Air Force. His tenure included training Air Force officers, direct oversight of 100-plus active duty personnel and six operations, administrative overview of 400+ Air Force Reserve personnel and an assistant professorship of aerospace studies, serving as a business operations manager, as well as a deployment in Iraq.

“The Redmond Airport has broad regional importance – from general aviation to commercial air service, to Forest Service and Cargo operations, our influence is significant and our responsibility is great,” Bass said in the announcement.

“We are up to the task of doing our part to contribute to Redmond’s growth of business and industry; and to achieve success in an inclusive customer oriented manner with stakeholders and partners,” he added.

In addition to his military service Bass was a supervisor at Hexcel Advanced Composites and a private business owner in Washington. He holds a Bachelors from the University of Portland and a Masters from Penn State University.