SCERS employer features from recent SCERS Newsletters

2026

Sacramento County Department of Airports

Few assets connect a region to the world as directly as its airports, and the Sacramento County Department of Airports oversees four of them. Sacramento International Airport (SMF), which surpassed one million passengers in its first year of 1967 and welcomed nearly 14 million passengers in 2025, serves as the region’s primary gateway to California and the world while continuing to expand and modernize to meet growing traveler demand. Mather Airport, a former Air Force base, serves as a major cargo hub providing critical access to Northern California markets. Sacramento Executive Airport is a leading general aviation airport and home to more than 30 businesses, and Franklin Field is a public-use airport that also supports aviation training through its flight school.

SMF’s growth is driven by the larger community, being one of the fastest growing areas in California. “Our entire mission is our customers’ experience and safety,” said Airport Sr. Public Information Officer Scott Johnston, and changes currently in progress or planned for the near future support that mission.

For instance, an additional parking garage with 5,500 spaces, real-time availability displays, and a new permanent art installation, is scheduled to open in late 2026. Also planned by the end of the year is an ADA-compliant, scenic Pedestrian Walkway that will link Terminal B to Concourse B and will feature multiple new pieces of art throughout the expansion.

By the end of 2027, a new Terminal A Exit Road and shuttle hub that will improve traffic flow and passenger access is scheduled to open, and by late 2028, a planned Concourse B expansion will add six new gates with ticketing and baggage handling upgrades.

Other future plans include a Ground Transportation Center— walkable from both terminals—that will provide a new hub for taxis, rideshares, and off-site shuttles; and a Consolidated Rental Car Center that will relocate rental car facilities into the terminal area for a seamless pickup/drop-off.

New dining options with local ties are already in place, with one now open in the pre-security area of Terminal B near the tramway.

It’s a lot of change for staff to keep up with. Currently there are around 4,000 badged employees at SMF, including 400 County employees. Among its 130 unpaid volunteers is Gene Inderkum, who grew up on a dairy farm near what became the airport. Inderkum High School—named in recognition of his father’s community service— honors the family’s longstanding commitment to serving the region, a tradition Inderkum carries on by happily assisting travelers.

But whether public-facing or behind the scenes, it’s the Airport Operations team that keeps track of all things SMF. Airside Ops Construction Coordinator Adam Valdivia and Landside Ops Construction Coordinator Amy Lopez work closely with all sections of the airport, including contractors, consultants, tenants, and stakeholders, and they both love what they do.

“Thirty years at the airport has meant connecting people, welcoming the world to our region, and helping guide the airport through decades of change, growth, and unforgettable moments. Every day has brought a new challenge, a new story, and a renewed sense of pride in serving this community,” Lopez said.

SMF stays connected to our world 24 hours a day and is here to serve you. Any questions you’d like to ask will be answered via email at air-market@saccounty.gov. For information about volunteering at SMF, contact TustinBa@saccounty.gov, and for flight information, visit flysmf.gov.