Hi, I’m
Rickey D. Starr-Jr
Airport Operations Manager
Anchorage,United States
Summary
Detail-oriented Operations Manager with 32 years of aviation experience. Expert in FAA aviation protocols with proven history of leading operations with excellent guidance and employee leadership. Forward-thinking with extensive knowledge of FAA, State and local aviation regulations.
Overview
32
years of professional experience
3
years of post-secondary education
Work History
FAAAnchorage, AK
Merrill Field Air Traffic Manager
04.2022 - Current
Job overview
- Worked with stakeholders at Merrill Field and FAA to address airport safety issues identified due to airport design. Facilitated SRM for construction of airport changes to enhance safety. Mitigated risks identified in SRM process.
- Worked with Hughes Aviation, Merrill Field Airport, and FAA to develop IFR landing procedures to improve safety during inclement weather. New procedures will provide a significant increase in safety margin during IFR weather for aircraft landing MRI. Additionally, the procedure will allow aircraft that would normally divert to airports with better weather or precision approach, to land and MRI.
FAADetroit, MI
Detroit Metropolitan Air Traffic Manager
12.2020 - 04.2022
Job overview
- Directed highly technical work force, including functionally integrated teams of operational and support personnel that provide air traffic control services to more than 36 million passengers annually.
- Served on FAA Airport Construction Advisory Council to advise airports with construction and safety issues. Developed best practices for airports during airport construction.
- Worked with Delta Airlines to improve scheduling and efficiency of DTW Airport leading to a 10% increase in arrival and departure rates.
- Established a Letter of Agreement with Wayne County Airport Authority to improve efficiency of snow removal during inclement weather. Changes collaborated between FAA and WCAA was recognized as honorable mention during International Aviation Snow Symposium sponsoring the BALCHEN/POST Award for excellence in performance of airport snow and ice control during winter of 2021-22. This award is presented to airport personnel snow and ice control teams who have, throughout this past winter, demonstrated determination for excellence in their efforts to keep their airports open and safe.
- Worked with TSA, WCAA and FAA to establish a program for employees to receive COVID vaccinations keeping DTW safe during COVID pandemic. Allowed 90% of employees to be vaccinated in a short 4 week timeframe.
- Worked with American Model Association to develop procedure for UAS operations in close proximity to DTW airport. This work allowed UAS to operate, while providing awareness and increased safety to UAS operators, DTW operators, and Life Flight aircraft operating in and out of U of M hospitals.
- Established Letter of Agreement to allow FAA Air Traffic to operate at WCAA north tower during contingency situations. The agreement provided FAA and DTW the ability to maintain operations in event of emergency requiring evacuation of the Air Traffic Control Tower.
- Establish procedures with WCAA and Fuel Operators that provided daily times for runway closures to allow fuel deliveries and maintenance to be conducted in times of low operational demand, increasing airport efficiency and safety.
- Received Vice-Presidential Award for leadership efforts at DTW.
- Worked with WCAA to develop drivers training for airport operators to reduce runway incursions. Training included past events and lessoned learned, as well as changes to drivers training program to enhance safety.
- Facilitated Safety Risk Panel for aircraft landing at Willow Run during construction. The panel identified safety hazards for aircraft using navigational aides to closed runway for construction and circling to land on another runway. Procedures were established that produced 0 safety related issues during the year long project.
FAAAnchorage, AK
Merrill Field Air Traffic Manager
04.2019 - 12.2020
Job overview
- Served as Air Traffic Manager directing highly technical workforce providing service to fastest growing Alaskan Airport.
- Worked with stakeholders, Airports Division, Runway safety and Merrill Airport to identify several areas of safety concern during Runway Safety Meetings. Several airport design projects were conducted to reduce the potential for safety risk to aircraft operating at Merrill Field.
- Lead and participated in several outreach programs with FAA Safety Team to educate Merrill Operators on procedures to safely operate in the Anchorage Bowl.
- Worked with Merrill Airport and operators to address safety concerns of NOTAMs during snow removal. Developed a system to improve runway condition information delivered to pilots.
- Worked with stakeholders, Merrill Field and surrounding neighborhoods to address noise concerns. Developed a voluntary noise abatement procedures to minimize the impact of noise of aircraft and helicopters operating from Merrill Field.
FAAAnchorage, AK
Anchorage Air Traffic Control Watch Supervisor
08.2015 - 04.2019
Job overview
- Served as Operations Supervisor at Anchorage ATCT, responsible for planning and directing operations of 5.7 million passengers and more than 3 million tons of cargo annually.
- Participated in collaborative workgroup to identify equipment needed to improve safety to aircraft at ANC airport.
- Facilitated a SRM that identified wind mills at Fire Island as a safety concern. Established new charting procedures to alert aircraft to the safety situation.
- Worked with FAA and ANC Airport to design new Air Traffic Control tower. The new tower will allow better use of land at ANC and provide better visibility of airport movement area. The improved design will allow a hotel to be built at ANC, while increasing the safety of aircraft and vehicles operating at ANC Airport.
- Worked with GE Aviation, Alaska Airlines, Fedex, Delta and Anchorage Airport to establish new arrival and departure routes to Anchorage airport. The new routes increased efficiency by 20% and increased fuel savings for aircraft with advanced navigation equipment.
- Mentored a team of 7, 4 of which have been promoted to supervisors in the FAA.
FAAAnchorage, AK
Alaska District Support Specialist
11.2012 - 08.2015
Job overview
- Worked with Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association to address mid-air collisions in the Matsu Valley. Implemented procedures to allow aircraft to fly with altitude separation along the corridor from Matsu Valley to Kenai.
- Worked with stakeholders to design and implement a Class D airspace at Bryant Army Airfield. The airspace allowed for Army aircraft and drones to fly during periods of inclement weather, increasing training opportunities.
- Worked with Alaska Airlines to establish procedures at Juneau Airport to land on a taxiway during a runway construction project. This allowed ASA to continue to offer service to JNU with the runway closed.
- Worked with Industry stakeholders and USAF to establish procedures for restricted airspace in Alaska. Collaborated to find a workable solution to expand the use of restricted airspace with minimal impact to civilian users of the airspace.
- Facilitated safety risk panels at FAI, MRI, BET, ANC, JNU and ENA to address a multitude of safety topics. Each panel brought stakeholders from FAA, Airports, an Operators together to identify and mitigate safety situations.
- Worked with operators at Merrill Field to establish a procedure to allow for IFR navigation in reduced weather. The development and implementation of the MRI Obstacle Departure Procedure provided a means for aircraft to operate, with minimum delay, during low weather conditions.
FAAFairbanks, AK
Fairbanks Airport Operations Supervisor
08.2009 - 11.2012
Job overview
- Motivated and trained employees to maximize team productivity.
- Enforced regulatory and company policy compliance to improve workplace and employee safety and readiness.
- Enhanced operational performance and reduced labor expenses by developing and optimizing standard practices.
- Analyzed department metrics and performance and reported findings to management.
- Controlled arrivals and departures and transitioned aircraft across airfield and flight line.
- Worked within applicable standards, policies and regulatory guidelines to promote safe working environment.
- Resolved conflicts and negotiated mutually beneficial agreements between parties.
- Provided first-line supervision to a team of ATCS, providing training, coaching and guidance to subordinates and facilitates team building handling 1.3 million passengers annually.
Federal Aviation AdministrationFairbanks, AK
Air Traffic Controller
11.2000 - 08.2009
Job overview
- Controlled arrivals and departures and transitioned aircraft across airfield and flight line.
- Identified, analyzed, resolved and reported hazards and procedural issues affecting or potentially affecting safe and timely outcomes.
- Researched continually to stay up to date on new FAA rules and policies.
- Reviewed requests for activities impacting National Air Space (NAS) and Special Use Airspace (SUA) management.
- Worked with customers to understand needs and provide excellent service.
Serco-NA, IncBethel, AK
Air Traffic Controller
07.1999 - 11.2000
Job overview
- Worked with stakeholders and FAA to establish procedures for Capstone, which allowed for ADSB equipment and regulations to be implemented, allowing IFR flight available in areas with no navigational aids.
- Worked with users to establish SVFR procedures with Anchorage Center. The change to procedures increased efficiency for SVFR aircraft with the arrival of IFR aircraft. The average increase was 12 minutes per IFR arrival.
- Conducted Safety Risk Management assessment for the design and implementation of parallel taxiway. The taxiway increased safety by not requiring back taxi for aircraft requiring full length departure. Additionally, it increased efficiency allowing ATC to utilize the runway for arrival and departures, rather than taxiing aircraft.
Jet ConstructionSan Diego, CA
Construction Estimator/Project Manager
04.1997 - 07.1999
Job overview
- Managed construction schedules to achieve adequate project labor coverage.
- Created schedules and roadmaps for projects with budgets ranging from $3 million to $125 million.
- Worked with USAF to assist a project that was 9 months behind schedule, allowing the job to finish on time and under budget.
- Overseen a project at MCAB 29 Palms, California that utilized sewage water filtered and used for non-potable water for landscaping saving significant water resources.
- Designed and constructed a "hot fuel pit" and recovery system at Davis-Monthan AFB. The system allowed helicopters to refuel without shutting down. Providing more time for training and real world missions.
USMC, United States Marine Corps
Air Traffic Control Specialist
11.1990 - 04.1997
Job overview
- Communicated instructions to pilots through clear delivery and enunciation.
- Delivered weather updates to pilots to determine if necessary to divert aircraft to different airports.
- Controlled arrivals and departures and transitioned aircraft across airfield and flight line.
- Served as 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Marine of the Year for training more than 100 Certified Professional Controllers.
Education
Novi High SchoolNovi, MI
High School Diploma
08.1987 - 05.1990
Skills
Aircraft operations procedures
Airfield safety expertise
Aircraft emergency protocols
Security regulations
Flexible and Adaptable
Critical Thinking
Teamwork and Collaboration
Availability
See my work availability
Not Available
Available
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
swipe to browse
Timeline
Merrill Field Air Traffic Manager
FAA
04.2022 - Current
Detroit Metropolitan Air Traffic Manager
FAA
12.2020 - 04.2022
Merrill Field Air Traffic Manager
FAA
04.2019 - 12.2020
Anchorage Air Traffic Control Watch Supervisor
FAA
08.2015 - 04.2019
Alaska District Support Specialist
FAA
11.2012 - 08.2015
Fairbanks Airport Operations Supervisor
FAA
08.2009 - 11.2012
Air Traffic Controller
Federal Aviation Administration
11.2000 - 08.2009
Air Traffic Controller
Serco-NA, Inc
07.1999 - 11.2000
Construction Estimator/Project Manager
Jet Construction
04.1997 - 07.1999
Air Traffic Control Specialist
USMC, United States Marine Corps
11.1990 - 04.1997
Novi High School
High School Diploma
08.1987 - 05.1990