Director of Airports, COSA

 Jesus H. Saenz, Jr, 

Jesus H. Saenz Jr., IAP

Director of Airports, City of San Antonio

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Career

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In January 2020, Jesus H. Saenz Jr., IAP, was appointed as the Director of Airports for the City of San Antonio. In this role, he oversees the strategic vision, day-to-day operations, and long-term planning of the San Antonio Airport System, which comprises San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF). Together, these airports generate an annual economic impact exceeding $5.2 billion and sustain approximately 46,000 regional jobs.

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Under Mr. Saenz’s leadership, SAT has achieved record-breaking passenger numbers, expanded nonstop domestic and international flights, and launched Elevate/SAT, a $2.5 billion capital construction and renovation program.

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Previously, Mr. Saenz served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Houston Airport System (HAS). As COO, he managed key initiatives such as strategic business plan development, the re-engineering of core business processes, the implementation of advanced technological solutions, and comprehensive oversight of airport operations.

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His tenure at HAS included several leadership roles: General Manager for William P. Hobby Airport, Assistant Director of Administration and Customer Service at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Assistant Director of Transportation at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Acting Assistant Director of Operations at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Senior Superintendent, Superintendent, and Customer Service Manager.

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With nearly two decades of aviation management experience, Mr. Saenz has become an accredited executive of the Global ACI-ICAO Airport Management Professional Accreditation Program (AMPAP-IAP). He currently serves as an active board member for Airports Council International (ACI), the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), and is a past board chair for the Texas Commercial Airports Association (TCAA). Mr. Saenz obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from University of Houston-Downtown, forming a strong foundation for his work in airport operations, customer service, and strategic development.

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