2022-2023 Board of Directors

Jorge Rubio, A.A.E., C.A.E. is the Airports Deputy Director for the City of San Diego Division of Airports where he is responsible the overall operations, maintenance, and development of the Montgomery Gibbs Executive and Brown Field Municipal Airports. Jorge has also held several positions at County of Ventura Department of Airports and with AvPorts at the Tweed New Haven Regional Airport. Jorge has a BS degree in Aviation Administration from the State University of New York at Farmingdale. In 2013 he was honored with the “40 under 40” Award by Airport Business Magazine, in 2015 with the Aviation Excellence Award by SWAAAE, and in 2019 received the President’s award from SWAAAE. He enjoys the outdoors and spending time with family and friends.

Hello! I am Graham Ritz and am an Airport Operations Supervisor at the Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport. I was born and raised in Indiana and graduated from Lewis University in 2015 with a B.S. in Aviation Administration. While at Lewis, I was a member of the university’s baseball team and enjoyed playing in intramural sports (football, basketball, you name it). During my college summers, I was fortunate to have experienced 4 separate internships (Indianapolis Intl. Airport {2 summers}, Put-in-Bay Airport, & Washington Dulles Intl. Airport). Throughout those internships, I found my “calling” within Airport Operations. The day following graduation, I began my Ops career as an Airport Operations Supervisor at the Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI) where I managed the day-to-day operations of the airport. In October 2016, I made the drive west to San Jose after accepting a position as an Airport Operations Supervisor at SJC! I began as an Airport Manager-on-Duty overseeing the day-to-day operations of the facility and later transitioned to where I am presently within Terminal Management.

Outside of my professional life, I enjoy the outdoors, going on hikes, playing sports, and spending time with friends and family. When time allows, I enjoy utilizing my private pilot skills and flying friends around the Bay area. I enthusiastically enjoy showing the Bay’s beautiful attractions from the air versus the ground (via car). My girlfriend and I reside with our pet in Gilroy, CA.

Gladys Diva Brown, C.M., C.A.E. is the Airport Director at Yuma International Airport. Yuma International Airport is co-located with the MCAS Yuma and is a Shared Use airport with a Joint Use Operating Agreement. Ms. Brown’s primary function is to operate the airport in compliance with applicable FAA regulations and state law, as well as, to maintain the positive relationship with Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, and to promote Commercial Air Service and General Aviation in a safe and secure manner. Yuma International Airport was the 2015 Arizona Airport of Year recipient, which is awarded and recognized by the Arizona Department of Transportation Aeronautics Group. Gladys was the Southwest American Association of Airport Executives (SWAAAE) 2017 Executive of the Year, the Arizona Airports Association (AzAA) 2017 Airport Executive of the Year, recognized as one of aviation’s best and featured as one of the brightest in the 2017 Airport Business 40 Under 40, the 2017 Yuma Chamber of Commerce Athena International Award recipient, received the California Maritime Academy 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award and featured in Cal State University “Made in the CSU” as one of the notable CSU Alumnus in the Aerospace and Aviation Sector. Prior to becoming the Airport Director, Ms. Brown was the Deputy Airport Director and originally joined Yuma International Airport in March 2009 as the Director of Operations. In addition to the duties of the positions she has held, Ms. Brown was the airport project manager overseeing all engineering, cost estimating and construction at the airport. Ms. Brown worked previously in various capacities as a Civil Engineer, Mechanical & Electrical Integrity Consultant and a High School Math Teacher. She earned her Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the California Maritime Academy accompanied with a USCG Third Assistant Engineer License. Ms. Brown obtained her AAAE Certified Member (C.M.) designation, is an active member of the Southwest AAAE chapter and is recognized as a Certified Airport Executive (C.A.E.). Ms. Brown is a Past President of the Arizona Airports Association and continues to support the one voice approach for key issues in aerospace and aeronautics for the State of Arizona, and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (SWAAAE). On a national level, Ms. Brown is the vice-chair on the Industrial Aviation and Military Relations committee of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). Ms. Brown volunteers in the STEM/AVID curriculum, recently elected to the Cal State Maritime Academy Foundation (CMAF) Board of Directors and is the CMAF External Relations Committee Chairman, serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation, Vice-Chair for Visit Yuma, Yuma 50 Board Member, United Way of Yuma County, participates in the Expect More Arizona and on the Yuma County Education Advisory Council, President of the National Society of Professional Engineers Yuma Chapter leading the annual competitive mathlete competition MathCounts, participates assisting in various youth sport teams, and officiates basketball. Ms. Brown has a strong commitment to her community, believes in mentoring to help build leadership for tomorrow and leads to inspire through passionate forward movement.

Michael Hill has been a member of Southwest Chapter of American Association of Airport Executives (SWAAAE) for approximately 17 years and a member of Arizona Airports Association (AzAA) for approximately 18 years. He served two terms as the Corporate Director on the AzAA board and is now serving as the Corporate Director on the SWAAAE Board.

Michael has been in the commercial construction industry for over 35 years and built a career with Sundt Construction for over 20 years “KAPBCS”. Sundt Construction is recognized as the Top Ranked Contractor by ENR across the Southwest. Sundt’s Mission is to be the most skilled builder in America. Most of that time supporting the aviation industry. With his time at Sundt he has had the opportunity to work on numerous aviation projects ranging in size from a few million dollars to San Diego Airport Landside project. Sundt Construction itself has an extensive aviation history including the launch pad for the Apollo missions.

He earned his degree in Construction Management from Colorado State University and worked his way thru high school and college as a certified welder, heavy equipment operator and carpenter. He has been exposed to all facets of the industry and understands how it relates to the aviation industry.

During Michael’s tenure as Director, he has served on the Conference Committee, the Conference Program Committee, Chair of the Sponsorship and Exhibitor Committee, Vice-Chair of the Education and Engagement Committee, the Nomination Committee and supports the Legislative Committee.

He lives in Phoenix Arizona enjoys spending time with his family, boating, camping, and supporting his grandsons football aspirations.

David Sperling has more than 20 years in the aviation industry, holding various positions with large national and multi-national engineering firms. He has provided professional airport and aviation consulting services to clients of varied size from small general aviation to large hub airports for projects projects related to airside, landside and terminal development; capacity enhancement and delay reduction; and safety. Additionally, David is serving his third term as Chair of the City of Chandler (Arizona) Airport Commission, and is a faculty associate at Arizona State University responsible for developing and delivering the graduate and undergraduate Airport Management and Planning curriculum. He is an instrument-rated private pilot and brings perspective gained from the broad range of experience from these endeavors to all of his projects. David has been an active member of SWAAAE since 2000 and regularly serves as the budget lead for the Chapter’s conference committees, as well as volunteering on other committees.