Okaloosa County Administrator Ernie Padgett has recommended hiring Tallahassee aviation director Sunil Harman as the county’s next airports director.
Padgett will present the recommendation to county commissioners at their meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Crestview.
“All four (finalists) were strong,” he said. “Interestingly, the committee was in accord in ranking Mr. Sunil Harman as the top candidate.”
Harman, who has worked as Tallahassee’s aviation director since 2011, was selected from an original pool of more than 100 applicants.
According to Harman’s resume, he has spent more than 26 years in the aviation industry.
Prior to working for the city of Tallahassee, he was the interim assistant director and division director for aviation for Miami-Dade County for about six years. Before that, he worked as the director for airport systems planning for the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority for two years.
Harman holds a bachelor’s degree in aviation administration and master’s degrees in business administration in aviation and aviation management, all from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
He also holds numerous professional designations, including Accredited Airport Executive through the American Association of Airport Executives and an Accredited International Airport Professional through the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Harman recently was nominated for the Florida Department of Transportation’s Aviation Professional of the Year award.
Padgett said he was impressed by Harman’s strong background in aviation and airport management.
“He’s very strong and a person that’s sure of himself,” Padgett said. “He knows what needs to be done when it comes to airport operations. I think he’s the person for the job,”
If approved by commissioners, Harman could begin his duties by the end of July.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari C. Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.
