Brian Cowles is the new manager of the Pierre Regional Airport.
On Feb. 28, the Pierre City Commission approved Cowles employment with the City. Cowles will begin his work at the Airport on March 20. He replaces Cameron Howard who served as Pierre’s Airport Manager since April 2020.
“Brian really impressed us in the interview process,” said City Engineer John Childs. “He’s incredibly well-rounded; his operational and policy experience are a boon for our airport.”
Cowles most recently served as the Operations and Maintenance Manager for the Branson Airport in Missouri. Before that, Cowles spent seven years in various capacities with the Wichita Airport Authority. Cowles holds a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Administration from Utah Valley University and is a U.S. Army veteran.
“My family visited Pierre a year or so ago and have been looking for an opportunity to relocate there ever since,” said Cowles. “When we saw the job posting for the airport manager in Pierre, it just felt kismet. We’re very excited!”
In this position, Cowles will oversee all airport operations including, facilities management, licensing and regulations, federal reporting, hangar and hay leases, Airport Rescue Firefighter Operations, as well as coordination with the federal Transportation Safety Administration, Denver Air Connection, Mustang Aviation, state and federal Departments of Transportation, and local vendors.
Last year, Pierre Regional Airport had more than 16,000 commercial enplanements in addition to the airport’s general aviation activity.