Kip Turner. Courtesy photo.
VENTURA — With more than 14 years’ experience in airport management, Kip Turner has been selected to run the County’s airports in Camarillo and Oxnard. Turner’s appointment as Director of Airports was made by County Executive Officer Mike Powers following an extensive national search. Turner will be relocating from Colorado to assume his duties.
Most recently, Turner has served as the Director of Aviation for the Vail/Eagle County Regional Airport, the second-busiest winter season airport in Colorado. His duties there included master plan development, capital improvement, regulatory compliance, facilities management, marketing and community development and government relations.
“Kip is well-known for his record in partnering with diverse stakeholders and building community and government relations,” said Powers, ”He has experience running both general aviation and commercial airports and his experience in master plan development, infrastructure design and expansion will be a benefit for both of our airports.”
Turner will oversee two County-owned airports – one in Camarillo and one in Oxnard. The Camarillo Airport is a former Air Force base that has been converted to general aviation and has annual operations of just under 200,000 takeoffs and landings. The Oxnard Airport is eligible for commercial aviation and has more than 70,000 general aviation operations per year.
“Aviation is my passion,” said Turner. “I look forward to working with the airport staff, aviation community, local government and surrounding communities to continue the thriving aviation history of the Camarillo and Oxnard airports and to build upon their existing support of the economic vitality of the region.”
Turner, 51, is a private pilot and a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives. He has a degree in aviation management and he will be relocating to Ventura County as soon as possible from his home in Colorado. He will start his new position on April 8, 2019.