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Almeter Named County Airport And Parks Manager

Ron Almeter was named new county Airports and Parks manager Friday at the Jamestown Airport terminal. Spending time in the private sector and the military, Almeter said he’s delighted to receive the opportunity to serve the community. Almeter is pictured alongside County Executive Vince Horrigan and George Spanos, county public facilities director. P-J photo by Jimmy McCarthy

The search for a new county Airports and Parks manager has landed an accomplished leader in the private sector, government and military operations.

County officials convened at the Jamestown Airport terminal Friday to announce the appointment of Ron Almeter as the next person to fill the position formerly held by Bill Tucker. A search committee led by George Spanos, public facilities director, yielded several candidates. The decision was made to go with Almeter, who possesses over 35 years of senior leadership and facilities management experience.

“His skills and experience will be an asset to our department,” Spanos said. “I look forward to working with him to improve the airports and parks.”

Almeter is a retired base engineer of the U.S. Army where he served from 2013-16. He also served as a program manager with the U.S. Air Force from 2010-13; a facilities management officer for the U.S. Department of State from 2007-10; and a project manager of Zachry Construction Co. from 1997-2004.

Almeter also served as a management generalist for U.S. government intelligence agencies from 1989-95 and as a special operations officer in the U.S. Navy from 1981-87. Almeter currently resides in Westfield.

The airports and parks manager position mixes many responsibilities as Almeter said he’s developed many disciplines. Throughout his professional career, he gained engineering, administration and contract management experience.

During his time as a Navy special operations officer, he was called upon on several occasions to salvage aircraft that had fallen apart, crashed or dropped an ordinance in a wrong location. Almeter said he spent enough time around aviation to know that it’s both exciting and challenging at times.

In addition to the opportunity to serve the community, Almeter said the airport provides a face for the county to the rest of the world.

“Anyone who travels by air to Chautauqua County is going to come through this facility and some way be touched by the airline, fixed-base operator or the county’s infrastructure here,” Almeter said. “It’s an opportunity to present who we are to the rest of the world, be it a commercial airline, the private air service that comes here and anyone who has business to do with the airport. I’m excited about the opportunity and will take the good work that Tucker started and continue to develop the whole capacity and capability of these wonderful assets.”

Almeter earned his bachelor’s degree in ocean engineering from the U.S Naval Academy. He is a masters candidate in the systems engineering program at Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas.

County Executive Vince Horrigan said he’s excited for the opportunity to bring in Almeter. Horrigan said the airports and parks are critical to the county’s infrastructure and hospitality and tourism industry.

“So much of the airports deal with FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) grants, airport improvement and all that stuff. Ron’s got a lot of experience working with the government,” Horrigan said. “We’re looking forward to good things. We have some challenges with the airline and weather and we’re working through those.”

Almeter begins his new position Tuesday.

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