Fort Smith airport director grateful to be ‘surrounded by aviation’ daily

For Andrew Meyer, the Fort Smith Regional Airport director hired in September 2025 to lead the third-largest commercial airport in Arkansas, he always knew he would build a career in aviation.

“Aviation has been in my blood since I was a kid,” Meyer said. “Once you get the smell of fuel in your system, you can’t get it out.”

Born and raised in Southern California, Meyer majored in aviation administration at California State University-Los Angeles and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. Since then, Meyer has worked at multiple airports.

He started as a volunteer airport operations intern at Los Angeles World Airports in California. He later became the operations officer I for the San Bernardino International Airport Authority in San Bernardino, Calif., where he initiated daily airfield inspections, handled Notice to Airmen reports, and oversaw interagency coordination.

After working in that role for two-and-a-half years, Meyer was promoted to operations officer II, where he led airfield compliance inspections and emergency response coordination, maintained operational documentation, supported construction oversight and cross-agency coordination, and assisted with aircraft support functions and marketing initiatives.

Nearly two years later, Meyer was named the superintendent of operations II for the Ontario International Airport Authority in California, prior to becoming the maintenance manager and later the operations supervisor for TBI Airport Management Inc. in California.

While working on his private pilot’s license, Meyer considered flying commercially. However, he said life had other plans. While not a commercial pilot, Meyer said he enjoys working with the airport on a day-to-day basis — whether it is working with operations, management or administration.

“I am surrounded by aviation every single day of my life, so I get to live and breathe it,” he said. “I fell in love with airport management.”

Having spent his entire career in California, Meyer accepted the director of operations position in Fort Smith in November 2024 in order to be closer to family. In the short time he has been in Fort Smith, Meyer said he has fallen in love with the city. Stating that everyone is friendly, engaged and very supportive, Meyer appreciates that unlike crowded Southern California, in Fort Smith he gets to live in the city where he works.

In April 2025, Meyer rose through the ranks and was named the co-interim airport director along with Director of Finance and Administration Lindsay Conley after the resignation of former director Michael Griffin. In September 2025 the airport commission named Meyer director.

“Since his hiring in late 2025, Andrew has brought a level of energy, professionalism, and strategic focus to the airport,” said Dr. Justin Voris, chairman of the Fort Smith Regional Airport Commission. “In a relatively short period of time, he has led or advanced numerous operational, infrastructure, community outreach, and air service development initiatives that position the airport well for long-term growth.”

Meyer credits the airport team for the success he has experienced so far.

“My team here is awesome,” he said. “They have great pride of ownership. They make my life easier.”

In addition to ensuring the safe operations of the airport, a large part of Meyer’s job includes partnering with local community partners, such as the military — primarily the U.S. Air Force — and Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“I’m just really grateful to work with such a supportive and engaging community,” he said.

While each of the partners has its own priorities, Meyer said, “At the end of the day, we have the same goal.”

The Fort Smith airport consists of two runways and one passenger terminal. With three daily direct flights to Dallas via American Airlines and a fourth that will be added toward the end of the month, Meyer’s goal is to make the airport a go-to travel location for passengers. Approximately 26,000 passengers traveled through the airport as of March 2026, and nearly 123,000 passengers used the airport in 2025. Airport enplanements totaled 18,039 in the first four months of 2026, up 0.66% compared with 17,921 in the same period of 2025.

Since taking the helm, Meyer has focused on major capital improvement projects. Originally slated to begin in 2029, the runway and taxiway rehabilitation project timeline that will provide support for the Air National Guard Foreign Military Sales project has been moved up. A nearly $10 million Federal Aviation Administration grant, as well as Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds, are covering the project.

As part of an Airport Joint Use Agreement, the airport owns and maintains the runways; however, the Ebbing Air National Guard Base — home of the 188th Wing and the relatively nascent foreign pilot training center — leases a percentage of acreage dedicated to military operations.

In addition to the taxiway project, the airport also plans to use a $4.1 million Congressionally Directed Spending grant to fund a snow removal equipment building project. The goal, Meyer said, is to have two maintenance facilities that will house all of the airport’s operations equipment in addition to a third for snow removal equipment.

Meyer said he is looking at possibly adding new hangers, replacing fire trucks, and building new infrastructure. The commission also has applied for a more than $5 million Airport Terminal Program grant to replace the jet bridges at the terminal. Meyer said he also would like to build additional hangers for general aviation. He is working with the military to evaluate the possibility and need to allow private corporation air travel at the airport.

“Airport leadership today requires balancing infrastructure modernization, regulatory compliance, airline recruitment, community engagement, tenant relations, and long-term financial sustainability simultaneously,” Voris said. “Andrew has approached those responsibilities with professionalism and a willingness to engage collaboratively with stakeholders across the region.”

Because travel often requires accommodations, Meyer is looking into property the airport can lease to provide additional hotels. There are three hotels on airport property.

“One of my biggest goals is to ensure the airport continues to grow and is financially able to do so,” he said. “Our airport commission is incredibly engaging and supportive. I’m extremely happy here.”