Cedar Rapids airport names operations director

The Eastern Iowa Airport has named a northern Kentucky airport executive as its new director of operations.

David 'Gene” Cossey was previously senior manager of airside operations and safety at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Cossey succeeds Sara Freese, who resigned in January to become director of aviation at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport in Amarillo, Texas.

Cossey has been involved in aviation for over 25 years.

During his career, he has done everything from fueling airplanes and cleaning terminals to serving as operations manager of the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport and airport director in Newport, Ore.

Cossey's responsibilities have included airport operations development and management, project management of multimillion-dollar projects, information system management and design, business development and analysis, and air service development.

Cossey earned a bachelor of science degree from Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., with a double major in business management and information system development. He also is an accredited airport executive through the American Association of Airport Executives.