b'10 FAT TERMINALSIn addition to expanding the terminal, the airport added two new boarding bridges from Oshkosh AeroTech. While employed by a private sector aviation firm based atAnd so it wentuntil the shocking call from White.Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (BRO),The morning after that fateful conversation, Partida personally Partida met Bryant Walker, the Texas airports director at thereflected on Thompsons prior demonstrations of confidence in time. They connected over a shared passion for aviation,his subordinates collective capabilities, and his own track record modernizing airports and elevating the user/customerwhile FAT was briefly under his supervision. experience, and Walker offered an unpaid internship even though Partida was well beyond his college years.I told myself, Ive done it before and Im going to pretend hes on extended vacation, initially, Partida recalls.While maintaining a separate full-time job, Partida completed an 18-month internship, furthering his knowledge of airportHe then convened an all-hands meeting with FATs other administration, aviation security, customer service, public affairsexecutive leaders and reminded the team there was still work and more. Along the way, he earned a full-time role in businessto be done with a multimillion-dollar capital program nearing development at BRO, eventually ascending through the ranks tocompletion. Everyone vowed to stay on course, rely on one the role of deputy director ofDevelopment and Security beforeanother and to look after the 150-person workforce that was moving to Fresno in 2023 to further advance his career. reeling from the sudden loss of a popular leader.Fresno really stood out, not only for the city and [airport]Henry [Thompson] poured his heart and soul into making sure projectsbut for the leadership, Partida explains of his[the terminal expansion] was executed, Partida notes. We had decision to move west. [Thompson] was the ultimate airportour marching orders.professional. Longtime Aviation ProfessionalFor two years, Thompson ran FAT as the sole airport executiveThompson built a strong reputation in the industry decades before until Partidas arrival in 2023. As the two developed mutual trusthe was hired in Fresno. His career began in the early 1980s when and confidence, and the management team adjusted to anhe enlisted in the U.S. Air Force to learn airfield management, later expanded chain of command, Thompson was able to graduallyserving as an air traffic control supervisor and trainer.pass the reins to Partida, even if only for isolated weekends at first. When Thompson eventually said hed be unreachable whileAfter leaving the military, he spent two years at San Jose away on a weeklong cruise, Partida knew he had earned theMineta International (SJC), then 18 more at San Francisco complete confidence of his mentor. International (SFO) before moving to Louisiana to lead the city I learned a lot from him, but he also allowed me to continueof Shreveports airport system. He returned to California for a developing leadership skills, Partida reflects. He never second- three-year stint as director of Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) before guessed my decisions.accepting the top role with Fresnos city-managed aviation department in late 2021.March | April 2026AirportImprovement.com'