b'44 ROC WINTER OPERATIONSTo protect airfield lighting and signage, crews first plow and then use snowblowers to remove windrows close to the fixtures.when storms hit. To build in flexibility, allExperience is the second pillar. Clearyincludes 18 operators and six supervisors, operators are cross-trained on each piecehimself started at ROC as a seasonalproviding 24/7 coverage year-round. Crew of equipment, which allows the team toemployee 16 years ago. He was promotedmembers are seasonedthe least-tenured adapt quickly if one piece of equipmentto a full-time operator, then a supervisorsupervisor has been at the airport more becomes unavailable during a storm. before being named airport operationsthan a decadeand bring deep institutional manager in 2022. His current staffknowledge to every snow event, Cleary says proudly. Experience allows supervisors to make fast, confident decisions while juggling constant communication with airlines, air traffic control and field crews. Theyre taking phone calls all the time trying to put out fires, and their experience and familiarity with the airfield definitely helps them mitigate some of those situations, he explains.The third key component is support. At ROC, were a tight-knit group, Cleary remarks, noting that support extends across departments and stakeholders, from maintenance teams to air traffic controllers to tenants. In the spirit of continuous improvement, post-event analysis is standard practice. After every storm, the air traffic control manager and I sit down and have a debrief to discuss what we can do better, Cleary says. Those conversations reduce tension, improve coordination and help ensure response to the next storm is even more effective, he adds. That commitment helps the airport adapt, learn and maintain its zero-tolerance standardseven in the most demanding winter conditions. March | April 2026AirportImprovement.com'