officer, chief legal officer and assistant director, Gunnoe has a lot on his plate. On the development side, he helps secure funding and oversee a team of architects, engineers and program managers. On the legal side, he handles contracts and leases, regulatory compliance and governance and outside counsel relationships. Gunnoe says the most challenging part is the scope of work.“ The portfolio is enormous, federal grant compliance is unforgiving, and aviation regulation is among the most complex in the public sector,” he says. Despite the workload, he loves working at the airport.“ At any point in the day you can step outside and watch aircraft take off or land— and that never stops being cool,” he says.
Over the last several years, Gunnoe and his team have delivered close to $ 40 million in projects for the airport, and they are about to start on their biggest project yet: a $ 75 million investment in the airport to modernize the terminals.
“ Knowing our community will board flights through a modernized terminal our team helped build— that’ s the kind of work that motivates you on the hard days,” he says.
Though he did not realize it when he was younger, Gunnoe says at this stage in his career, he knows fostering community and building strong relationships is essential.
“ The ability to build genuine trust with stakeholders— a federal agency, an elected official, a community member— is ultimately what determines whether work actually gets done,” he says.“ Technical skill gets you in the room. Relationships get things built.”
Along with his communication skills, Gunnoe credits his success to his attention to detail and commitment to quality work, two traits he watched his father demonstrate in his own life.
“ He never cut corners or let circumstances define the ceiling of what he could achieve,” he says.“ That example, not a speech, but a lived example, is what I carry with me most.”
While Gunnoe has had an incredible career in public service, he does not believe it’ s his greatest accomplishment.
“ Being a present, engaged husband and father is the achievement I care most about. Family first, full stop,” he says.“ Everything else is a means to that end.” •
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