Redmond Municipal Airport's $180 million terminal expansion remains on schedule for November 2027 completion despite a leadership change forced by a legal complaint over concession contracting, with the final structural steel placed in June and interior work now underway.

Interim director Jason Neff and deputy director Charles Hansen now run the Oregon airport after director Zachary Bass resigned earlier this month, ending an 11-year tenure. His departure followed a legal complaint filed by the airport's concessionaire against the city of Redmond, which operates the airport, accusing Bass of favoring a national firm to take over concessions once the expansion wraps up next year.

The city declined to comment on the complaint, citing pending litigation.

What does the management change mean for operations?

Neff, who has served as deputy city manager overseeing the airport director since 2022, will act as interim director for the foreseeable future. The city has no timetable for hiring a permanent replacement. Neff said his interim role could last six months or run until the terminal is finished.

"We got a great team, lots of depth here, so nothing's really changing," Neff said. "We got the same goals, same commitments, same priorities from the council."

Neff also holds the city's chief financial officer post but said the finance team can operate independently. He expects to spend roughly 90% of his time on airport operations. His connection to the airport dates back two decades: he joined the city 20 years ago as a budget analyst and helped budget the airport's 2007 terminal expansion.

"It's come full circle," Neff said.

Hansen arrived just two months ago, a hire Neff said addressed a need for a deputy director that predated Bass's exit. Hansen spent 24 years as a civil engineer officer in the U.S. Air Force, finishing his career with a California assignment before returning to his native Oregon, where he grew up on the coast.

Hansen described the transition as smooth and framed Bass's departure as a moment for reflection rather than disruption.

"We've got a tremendous team here of managers, supervisors, down to the employees that are doing the job every day out there, whether it's on the airfield or providing security around the facility or the tracking of all aspects of the data and revenue that we generate here at the airport — all going in the same direction," Hansen said.

Where does construction stand?

Crews placed the last piece of structural steel in June, and Hansen said the building's vertical extent is complete. Work now focuses on closing in the structure.

"I think into the new year, every day you'll see the building continue to close in, and then ultimately we'll get the glass in on the building," Hansen said.

Interior finishes and furnishings follow, leading to the November 2027 completion date. Construction began in June 2025.

The finished terminal will deliver:

• More than 80,000 square feet of new space
• Seven jet bridges
• Expanded waiting areas with doubled seating
• 6,000 square feet of new concessions

The project generated 383 full-time construction jobs, and the completed terminal is expected to create 207 permanent positions across the Transportation Security Administration, airlines, concessionaires, rental car agencies and airport staff.

How is the project funded?

The city budgeted nearly $80 million for the expansion in its 2026-27 budget. Of that, $79.9 million covers the final two years of construction on the $180 million project. Funding draws on bond proceeds, operating cash, Federal Aviation Administration entitlements and other grants.

The expansion's added passenger capacity is expected to increase tourism and visitor spending in the region.

Separately, the airport is changing its parking vendor, and the city council will decide on a new rate later this year.

Neff could remain in the interim role through terminal completion in November 2027, giving the city flexibility to defer a permanent director decision until the airport's largest capital project in nearly two decades is delivered.