Los Angeles World Airports Appoints New Airport Managers To Ontario International and Van Nuys Airports
Los Angeles World Airports Appoints New Airport Managers To Ontario International and Van Nuys Airports
(Los Angeles, California – February 15, 2000) Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has appointed Selena Birk acting airport manager of Van Nuys Airport (VNY) and promoted current VNY Airport Manager II Jens Rivera to Airport Manager III at Ontario International Airport (ONT). These appointments are effective, Tuesday, February 22, 2000.
These moves reflect LAWA’s current organizational restructuring, as well as historical rotations and career development among its airport managerial positions.
Current ONT Airport Manager III Peter Drinkwater has been reassigned to the Special Projects Bureau at Los Angeles World Airports, working on operations-related initiatives at all of LAWA’s four airports (ONT, VNY, Los Angeles International, and Palmdale Regional).
Leigh Hatayama and Ulises Aguirre will continue as assistant airport managers at VNY and ONT, respectively.
Selena Birk will continue LAWA’s efforts to implement programs addressing community concerns regarding VNY aircraft operations and noise impacts. She will oversee operations and administration at the world’s busiest general aviation airport. She is the first female to be appointed airport manager of a City of Los Angeles owned and operated airport.
Birk is currently a chief management analyst and heads LAX’s Airfield Permits Bureau, which was created in 1996. As head of this 54-member staff, she coordinates the efforts of nearly 700 aviation business and government agencies and manages airfield issues concerning security access control, employment background investigations and auditing, and implementation of a state-of-the-art security identification badging system. She also manages licensing agreements for all airport-related organizations, such as airline catering and fuel delivery services, air carrier operating permits, and motor vehicle permits.
Under her leadership, the LAX Airfield Permits Bureau developed standardized employment background verification procedures and conducted company-by-company training programs to significantly improve LAX’s employment background check and auditing procedures for the 42,000 airport-wide employees who are issued airport badges as a condition of their work at LAX. This program was recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration and is being recommended to other U.S. airports as guidelines for developing their own respective programs.
Birk also is a member of a special action team at LAX tasked with preparing recommendations for continuing improvement of airfield safety at LAX. The Airfield Permits Bureau is currently developing an airfield familiarization program to supplement airline training of their ground-handling crews.
Birk began her career with Los Angeles World Airports in 1989 as management assistant in the Airfield Clearance Unit. Prior to her appointment to head the Airfield Permits Bureau, she served in progressively responsible positions in LAWA administration, including risk management, budgeting, contract management, and a variety of VNY operations and administration issues.
Birk holds a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science from California Polytechnic-Pomona and is completing an MBA in aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Jens Rivera was appointed Airport Manager II at Van Nuys Airport on March 1, 1999. He was responsible for restructuring the VNY organization to enhance the administrative, operational, and security activities. He also initiated a study to develop minimum standards and lease policies for VNY.
Prior to his appointment at VNY, Rivera was acting airport manager at ONT for 11 months and former assistant airport manager. His responsibilities at ONT included managing daily operations and administrative functions over approximately 300 employees. He was responsible for planning for operations of the new ONT terminals which opened September 1998, as well as developing and organizing new staff to perform accounting, maintenance, property, telecommunications, contract management and concession management functions.
Rivera has served in progressively responsible positions as staff assistant to the LAX Airport Manager and deputy executive director of administration and operations, and as telecommunications manager at LAX. Prior to joining Los Angeles World Airports, he held various positions with the City of Los Angeles Harbor, Municipal Auditorium, and the Community Development Departments.
Rivera holds a master’s degree in public administration and bachelor’s degree in anthropology from California State University, Long Beach.
