The San Antonio City Council Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on Oct. 7 completed interviews of applicants for the Airport Advisory Commission and voted to forward its recommended slate to the full City Council for final appointment.

The committee's City Secretary presented the commission's structure: 19 members representing aviation industry, travel and tourism, and the general community with staggered two-year terms; interviews were conducted in private for deliberation and the committee planned to forward recommendations to the council for formal votes in a full session.

The meeting featured two-minute statements from each applicant followed by short questions from committee members. Applicants who spoke included Mark Probust, Ignacio "Nacho" Reyes, Dwayne (Doyle) Turner, Tasha Carr, Marta Henle, David Ansi, Brian Morris, Christie Villanueva, Marco Morse, William Brandol, Jose9 Lerma and Wilson Luang. Applicants described backgrounds in aviation operations, airline and airport management, hospitality and community engagement and repeatedly identified the airport's dual roles as an economic engine and the city's "first impression" for visitors.

Applicants described relevant experience: Reyes and Turner emphasized operational and emergency-coordination experience; Probust and Morse cited airline and planning backgrounds and connections with carriers; Henle and Brandol noted hospitality and concession experience; others emphasized community outreach or business-development perspectives. Committee members asked each applicant how they would balance competing stakeholder priorities (residents, airlines, travelers, hospitality industry) and how their skills would address challenges such as route development, parking, ground transportation and airline relations.

The committee also explained the interview process: candidates gave two-minute public remarks, could be asked up to three brief questions, and deliberations would occur in executive session prior to a public recommendation. The City Secretary said candidates who are recommended would receive notice and be invited to onboarding and training following council confirmation.

At the conclusion of the interviews the committee moved to recommend appointments and the motion passed unanimously; the chair listed the individuals the committee planned to forward to the City Council and set the term end date for recommended appointments as March 2027. The committee indicated it would return with its formal recommendation to the full City Council, which will make final appointments.

Background and next steps: the Airport Advisory Commission provides feedback to airport staff on air service, operations, concessions and community liaison matters; the committee's recommendations will appear on an upcoming City Council agenda for final action and appointees will receive orientation once confirmed.