Fired by former Gov. Bill Walker, the longtime manager of Ted Stevens International Airport will take over at Boeing Field in Seattle on Jan. 14 as the new airport director.
The appointment comes after a highly competitive national search.
John Parrott was unceremoniously dismissed by Walker last year after having managed the airport since 2008. The move surprised the aviation community and Walker only said that he wanted to go in a different direction.
Parrott had worked for Ted Stevens International since 1998 and is highly regarded in the industry. He was named the Airport Executive of the Year award by the Northwest Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives in 2014.
“I’m excited to join the team at King County International Airport,” Parrott said. “The airport is a key driver of economic growth for the region, and I look forward to building on its legacy of success.”
After leaving Ted Stevens International, Parrott has worked as an aviation consultant with clients around the country.
A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Air Force Academy, and a master’s degree in education and management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In 2007, he earned his Accredited Airport Executive credential from the American Association of Airport Executives.
King County International Airport-Boeing Field is one of the busiest primary non-hub airports in the United States.
It has a significant cargo operation, and is known as the delivery point for all of the Boeing Company’s 737 aircraft. In addition, the airport has 160 businesses that include flight schools, charter operations, and helicopter services. Hundreds of small aircraft use the airport, with an average of 200,000 takeoffs and landings each year. The airport’s economic impact exceeds $5 billion and directly or indirectly supports more than 16,000 local jobs.