Humboldt County Moves to Appoint New Director of Aviation

The Humboldt County Administrative Office announced Dec 5 that Justin Hopman is anticipated to be appointed at the Board of Supervisors meeting on December 9 to serve as the county Director of Aviation. Hopman, who is expected to begin work on January 5, 2026, brings more than 15 years of experience in airport operations and management, most recently serving as Deputy Director of Operations and Maintenance for the Titusville Cocoa Airport Authority on Florida's Space Coast.

Hopman’s background includes leading runway rehabilitation projects, hangar construction, navigational system upgrades, and work on a new air traffic control tower project. He previously held operations roles at Orlando International and Orlando Executive airports. The Director of Aviation position will oversee Humboldt County’s six airports, managing day to day operations, capital improvements, long term planning and airline and partner relations to strengthen regional connectivity.

For local residents, the appointment signals a focus on advancing infrastructure and service stability across the county airport system. County airports serve not only scheduled passenger service but also business travel, air cargo, aerial firefighting staging, medical transport, and general aviation that supports tourism and forestry operations. Leadership with project delivery experience may accelerate runway and facility upgrades and help secure state and federal funding for capital work.

Policy implications include budgeting decisions at the county level, prioritization of capital improvements across the six airport properties, and coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and regional carriers on service reliability. The new director will be positioned to influence grant applications, project timelines, and partnerships that shape how Humboldt connects to larger markets and responds to seasonal emergencies.

Next steps for residents will include monitoring the Board of Supervisors for formal confirmation, reviewing county budget allocations for airport projects in upcoming fiscal proposals, and following the new director’s public plans for service improvements. Hopman’s anticipated start date of January 5, 2026 will mark the beginning of a transition period as county staff and community stakeholders align on priorities for the airport system.