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Director of Stockton Metro Airport named AmVets' Veteran of the Year

Record - 11/2/2020

STOCKTON – Russell Stark has been named Veteran of the Year by the AmVets Post 1947 in Stockton.

Stark is director of the Stockton Metropolitan Airport and a retired 32-year Army veteran who ascended to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5. Stark will receive the recognition at a ceremony open to the public at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium.

“It means a great deal because hopefully it will highlight that veterans still are a viable part of our community,” Stark said. “We do have a lot to offer as veterans. I was shocked when I got the award because as a veteran, I like to think of myself as a quiet professional. We never seek accolades. We just go about our business and try and serve the community.”

Stark became director of Stockton Metro on Jan. 10, 2018 after working as commissioner at the Oneida County Griffiss International Airport in upstate New York. Prior, he was an Army helicopter and airplane pilot, instructor pilot, instrument flight examiner and safety officer stationed all over the world. Some of his favorite assignments included teaching brand-new pilots at Ft. Rucker, Ala., as well as the Egyptian Air Force to fly the CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

“I’ve had some pretty unique assignments and you take a little bit from each of those assignments and build your memory base,” Stark said. “But I think the unique ones were when I was actually training new pilots and teaching new aviators.”

Stark worked on various projects with the air field managers on military bases, including his last assignment as Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3 Air, at Ft. Riley in Kansas.

“That really led me to start thinking about the airport management field,” Stark said. “And prior to coming here, I ran Griffss International Airport which interestingly enough was one of the six at the time designated FAAUAS (Federal Aviation Administration Unmanned Aircraft systems). So I have a long history in aviation.”

Commander Michael L. Emerson, AmVets Post 1947, Stockton, said Stark was selected for his service to his country and the community.

“In our opinion, he is a leader in our community and very active in helping veterans in our community,” Emerson said. “He’s also a retired Army Chief Officer 5 and he’s just an all-around nice guy.”

Stark said he’s excited about inking a new deal with Amazon to build a large facility on the airport and other projects, including construction of a perimeter fence are underway. COVID-19 has presented challenges. Commercial service is down about 50% and daily service to Los Angeles International Airport through United Airline’s SkyExpress was discontinued due to the pandemic just months after starting in August 2019. Allegiant Airlines continues to offer flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix. Stark said Stockton Metro ranked 181st out of 425 airports nationwide surveyed in maintaining passengers.

“Every airport across the country is facing challenges due to this COVID crisis,” he said. “But with the assistance of my staff and the tenants and the County Board of Supervisors, we’re making it through.”

Stark said he’s trying to attract other air service providers, but airlines are apprehensive to discuss new markets due to the pandemic at this time.

“We’re going to try,” Stark said. “We just keep moving forward.”

Stark and his wife of 39 years, Renee, live in Manteca. They have one son, Russell Stark II, an Air Force Officer stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, and four grandchildren. Stark’s late father was a Marine during the Korean War.

Contact reporter Bob Highfill at (209) 546-8277 or jhighfill@recordnet.com. Follow him on Twitter @bobhighfill.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Director of Stockton Metro Airport named AmVets' Veteran of the Year

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