Bartholomew said his departure came together in the last few weeks for “family reasons” and that he will be returning to Oregon. He has no immediate plans to work for another airport, but is exploring continuing work with ASE in a contractor capacity.
“What they’ll probably do is bring me on in a contract position to help implement some of these projects, whether the runway or the terminal or our noise and emissions program and some other things that we’ve been working on for quite some time,” he said via phone on Thursday.
A county news release says Deputy Airport Director Diane Jackson will step in as interim director, “ensuring a seamless continuation of airport operations, infrastructure improvements and sustainability initiatives.”
Bartholomew said he will lean on past experience to stay “as involved as possible” in the airport projects. The airport is in the midst of baseline data collection for a noise emissions study and updating its Airport Layout Plan, a graphic depiction of existing and future airport facilities.
“It’s been an amazing position to be in. It’s been a lot of fun. It’s been fascinating,” he said. “I can’t speak any higher about the people I work for with the county; honestly, they’ve been great.”
His departure comes just a few months after Pitkin County voters rejected a community group’s bid to require a future public vote on changes to the width and location of the local airport’s runway. The county government has been planning infrastructure changes to comply with Federal Aviation Administration standards for Airport Design Group III runway design, which will allow airport access to planes with larger wingspans. The November 2024 vote on Ballot Issue 1C essentially reaffirms county commissioners’ authority over airport and runway decisions.
The vote cleared the path to finish updating the ALP and to apply for federal funds for airside and terminal side renovations, though the Trump Administration’s actions are casting doubt on the certainty of some grants — particularly those related to climate-based funding.
Airport Advisory Board Chair Jacquelyn Francis praised Bartholomew’s work and said he will be missed. His departure, and other factors, may shift the airport’s approach to upcoming projects, she said.
“A lot depends, too, on the United States government, the FAA and where all the funding comes from and if everything goes as smoothly as we hope in that area,” she said. “But that is hard to know with our current political system.”
The county and supporters of airport modernization projects are counting on hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal government. Francis said she anticipates the airport will hire a construction manager to oversee the projects.
Since assuming the role in 2021, Bartholomew led the airport through “significant advancements,” according to the release. Those advancements include the adoption of an updated Airport Layout Plan, a new 30-year contract for fixed-base operator Atlantic Aviation and the introduction of sustainability initiatives such as electric vehicle integration along with enhanced noise and emissions reduction programs.
Under his leadership, the airport also expanded commercial air service, bringing new flight options through the three commercial airlines that serve ASE. The airport also made modifications to accommodate E-175 aircraft, which are seen as a way for commercial airlines to replace their aging and dwindling CRJ-700 fleets. United Airlines already is using E-175s for service to and from Aspen.
“Additionally, Bartholomew has been instrumental in fostering strong relationships with governing agencies, including the FAA, Air Traffic Control and TSA, while also prioritizing the professional development of airport staff,” the release states.
Pitkin County Deputy Manager Rich Englehart praised Bartholomew’s leadership and the impact on the airport’s progress.
“Dan’s support for his staff and passion for their development at the airport has been truly inspiring. His leadership has not only advanced key projects but also strengthened the team in ways that will have a lasting impact,” Englehart said in the release.
A broad community outreach effort will kick off this year as the project to build a new terminal gets underway, the release says. Also, the work of upgrading the runway will move ahead following the aforementioned support from voters in November 2024.…Read more by Josie Taris, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer