Cathryn Stephens announced as Eugene Airport Director
Cathryn Stephens, A.A.E, was this week named the Director of the Eugene Airport, a role she
has filled in an interim capacity since March 2020. Stephens has worked at the EUG for nearly
15 years and is a nationally recognized Airport Executive.
“For the past 18 months she has led an amazing EUG team through one of the most dynamic
periods in commercial aviation history working to adapt to severe reductions in people flying in
2020,” said Matt Rodrigues, Eugene Public Works Director. “She has also led the team through
the administration of Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) and
Corona Virus Response grants, working to rapidly readjust to travel demand, landing three new
airlines at EUG including Southwest Airlines and construction of the associated buildouts to
accommodate them, and much more.”
Throughout the challenges of the last 18 months, Stephens worked with her team to develop a
vision of the future for the EUG Airport, crafting mission, vision, values as part of the EUG
Strategic Business plan as well as working to create a funding plan to support implementation
of needed airport improvements and concourse expansion.
Additionally, Stephens has worked with the EUG team to help drive industry innovation forward
by participating in best practice research resulting in EUG becoming one of the first 10 airports
to receive the GBAC STAR™ Accreditation (the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention,
response and recovery accreditation for facilities).
Stephens has worked diligently to become a high performing, nationally recognized Airport
Executive serving as a National Director for the American Association of Airport Executives
(AAAE) and current chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. In recognition of
her work in Oregon and the Northwest, she recently received the 2021 NWAAAE President’s
Award of Distinction and was named the 2021 Airport Manager of the Year by the Oregon
Airport Management Association (OAMA).
CONTACT: Andrew Martz, A.A.E, Acting Asst. Airport Director, 541-682-8484
Public Information Section, 541-682-5523
