Ravalli County’s Board of County Commissioners on Friday, June 13, interviewed two finalists for the county airport manager position, hearing from Dwayne English and Adam Reed about their experience with airport operations, maintenance, emergency response and contractor work.

The interviews focused on hands-on responsibilities the county expects the manager to handle, including runway and grounds maintenance, vegetation control, plowing, fuel handling and response to crashes or hazardous releases. Commissioners asked each candidate scenario questions and about availability; both said they would be on call and able to respond to after-hours emergencies.

Dwayne English, an applicant who said he has lived in the Bitterroot for 30 years and trained as a pilot at the local airport, described 11 years of operations work for Choice, where he rose from line technician to operations supervisor. “My experience is 11 years of that,” English said, describing work that included fueling, customer service, moving aircraft for students and light facility maintenance. English said his hands-on duties at Choice included mowing, plowing with a 4-wheeler, maintaining small engines and coordinating with larger equipment operators during snow seasons.

English said he had not personally been responsible for a major fuel spill while at Choice but described spill containment practices he has observed, including “splash buckets to try to contain things” and contacting regulators when needed. He also said he has observed changes in pavement drainage and would notify engineers about puddling or freeze-thaw problems.

Adam Reed, who served 26 years in the military and worked about 10 years for the county road department, told the commissioners he does not hold a pilot certificate but has experience with heavy equipment, plows, sweepers and runway-related equipment from his road-department work. Reed said he holds a commercial driver’s license and that he was once hazmat-qualified in the military. “I was hazmat qualified in the military,” Reed said when asked about fuel spill and hazardous-waste response.

On stormwater and drainage, both candidates described limited formal engineering experience. English said his experience was largely observation and reporting (he referenced monitoring a local drainage and working with engineers), while Reed said his relevant work has been clearing culverts and other road‑department tasks. On emergency-response scenarios posed by commissioners (including being called at night about an apparent aircraft crash), both candidates said they would notify 911, report to the scene and coordinate with emergency responders; Reed added he would provide first aid if he were first on scene.

Commissioners asked follow-up questions about working with the airport advisory board and with federal agencies. Reed asked about FAA field-office contacts; commissioners and board members indicated there is a Denver field office and a liaison in Helena and said existing local volunteers and former staff (including a former manager who remains available) could assist a new hire.

No vote or formal hiring action occurred during the meeting. Commissioners told applicants they aim to make a hiring decision early the following week.

The interviews drew detailed, operational answers rather than formal policy discussion; commissioners probed candidates’ hands‑on experience and readiness to start. English said he could start immediately if offered the job; Reed said he could begin in about two to three weeks because of a current personal project.

The board opened the meeting for other public items after the interviews and then adjourned.