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Ivar Satero
Airport Director at San Francisco International Airport
Ivar Satero is the Airport Director at San Francisco International Airport, a position he has held since July 2016.1 With over 8 years of experience in this role, Satero oversees the operations and management of one of the busiest airports in the United States.
Professional Background
Satero's professional profile includes several key positions and affiliations:
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Airport Leadership: As Airport Director, he is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of San Francisco International Airport.1
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Industry Involvement: Satero is actively involved in various aviation and travel industry organizations:
- Member of the U.S. Travel Association since July 2016
- Chair of the Gateway Airports Council since July 2018
- President of the California Airports Council since July 20181
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Regional Engagement: He serves on the Executive Committee of the Bay Area Council and as a Board Member of the San Francisco Travel Association.1
Qualifications and Certifications
Satero's professional qualifications include:
- Registered Professional Engineer: Certified by the California State Board of Equalization since January 1994.1
- Registered Private Pilot: Licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration since July 1991.1
Public Engagement
Satero is known for his public engagement and communication about airport operations:
- He has shared insights about the airport's response to challenges, such as storm-related power issues.2
- Satero participates in community events, including town halls, to engage with the public and answer questions about the airport.3
Ivar Satero's leadership at San Francisco International Airport combines technical expertise, industry involvement, and community engagement, positioning him as a key figure in the aviation sector.
Highlights
The storms which came through the area last month caused power outages across the region, as well as here at #SFO. I wanted to share a story about the amazing work of the Airport’s High Voltage Electricians and the crew that supported them in repairing storm-related power loss on the runway.
On Friday, November 5, rainstorms and high tides led to flooding on the airfield. This created a power outage which caused significant lighting loss on Runway 19L / 1R along with Taxiway L. More than 80 lighted directional signs lost power, making it unsafe for aircraft.
The Airfield Safety team closed the runway so SFO’s High Voltage Electricians could repair the systems and signs, including entire circuit boards which were destroyed because of water damage. Repairing 80 signs and circuit boards on the airfield while planes are taking off and landing is a precarious job under the best of circumstances. But add in poor weather, wet conditions and nighttime hours, and the job becomes even more so.
The team worked together to diagnose the problem, develop a solution, source the replacement parts, coordinate repair and installation, and get the runway back up and fully operating in just six days. This was an all-hands-on-deck effort involving close coordination between shifts of electricians, the Control Tower, Airfield Operations and the Airport Duty Managers. The work was performed quickly and safely, and prevented long-term loss of operations.
This story underscores the critical work that our maintenance and airfield teams do every day to keep the Airport running safely and efficiently. Much of their work is behind-the-scenes and, as you can see, requires a high level of skill, experience and adherence to safety standards. Thank you to Airfield Operations, Airport Duty Managers and, especially, the entire team of High Voltage Electricians for their hard work and dedication.
We are saddened by the recent passing of one of our SFO firefighters, Christopher Yock who passed away shortly after battling the fire at the Domestic Parking structure last week.
Firefighter Yock joined SFO San Francisco Fire Department’s Truck 48 in 2019 after 19 years of working in the city, mostly at Station 10 in the Richmond District. A native San Franciscan, he loved the city he served for more than two decades.
Firefighter Yock was much loved by his colleagues in the Fire Department. He comes from a large family of firefighters who serve throughout California and beyond. Decades into his career, he came to the SFO to expand his experience and knowledge, and it turned out to be a great fit for him. He was an avid traveler and his sister is a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines based at SFO. He was also an incredible firehouse chef, and his SFO team loved serving shifts with him because of his great cooking and upbeat demeanor.
Firefighter Yock was one of dozens who responded to a vehicle fire last Tuesday in the Domestic parking garage. It was an extremely volatile and dangerous situation, and our firefighters quickly got the situation under control and extinguished the fire, which damaged eight vehicles. Their brave efforts undoubtedly saved lives and property, and allowed SFO to continue to operate without interruption.
I am truly humbled and grateful for the dedication and courage shown every day by our first responders at the airport. They keep us safe and secure, often in the face of danger or potential threats. Please join me in offering thoughts and prayers for Firefighter Yock’s family, friends and colleagues.
