Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 2:42 PM - For Immediate Release
Sacramento County Department of Airports Chooses Chris Wimsatt as Assistant Director
Sacramento, CA – The Sacramento County Department of Airports (SCDA) announced the promotion of Chris Wimsatt to the recently created role of Assistant Director of Airports, effective December 29th, 2024.
Wimsatt was selected for this position following an exceptionally competitive process. Reporting directly to the Director of Airports, Cindy Nichol, Wimsatt will play a key leadership role in driving SCDA’s vision for serving airport customers and the community and ensuring the continued excellence of all four airports.
"Chris has proven himself to be an exceptional leader and visionary in the aviation industry,” said Nichol. “His ability to navigate complex financial challenges and implement innovative strategies has positioned our airports for long-term success. I am thrilled to see Chris step into this new role, where his expertise and dedication will continue to elevate our operations and customer experience."
Wimsatt’s exemplary track record and leadership within the aviation industry make him uniquely qualified for this role. Since joining SCDA in August 2021 as Deputy Director of Finance and Administration, Chris has led numerous groundbreaking initiatives, including:
- Successfully completing the airport’s first new-money bond deal in over 12 years.
- Spearheading the financing strategies for SMForward, a $1.3 billion capital improvement program comprising seven transformative projects.
- Transitioning Sacramento International Airport to an alternate customer facility charge (CFC) collection model, increasing monthly collections by nearly $800,000.
- Advocating for policy changes, including securing grant enhancements in the FAA Reauthorization Act and updating California law to preserve rental car facility fees.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Wimsatt has received several prestigious industry honors, including being named 2024 Medium-Hub Airport Finance Professional of the Year by Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) and 2023 Rising Star by The Bond Buyer.
"I am deeply honored to take on this new role and to continue serving SCDA,” Wimsatt said. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished as a team, and I’m excited to build on this momentum to ensure our airports remain leaders in innovation, service, and community impact."
Before joining SCDA, Wimsatt served as Chief Financial Officer for the Dayton Department of Aviation in Dayton, Ohio, overseeing Dayton International Airport and a general aviation airport. His earlier experience includes roles in Dayton’s Office of Management and Budget, as well as in finance and banking with Westminster Financial Securities and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.
The Sacramento County Department of Airports is responsible for planning, developing, operating and maintaining the county’s four airports: Sacramento International Airport, Executive Airport, Mather Airport and Franklin Field. Sacramento International Airport offers more than 155 daily nonstop flights on 12 domestic and international carriers to 36 destinations. The regional economic impact of the Sacramento County Department of Airports is more than $4 billion annually. For more information, visit sacramento.aero.