Mayor taps Sumner to lead Boise Airport

Beth Sumner will become director of Boise Airport once the City Council approves Mayor Lauren McLean's selection at its Nov. 10 meeting. Sumner has served as the airport's Deputy Director of Engineering & Planning since 2023.

Sumner has overseen engineering and planning for the $1.4 billion BOI Upgrade program, which has run alongside record passenger counts. She also leads the airport's pursuit of federal money, work that brought in more than $100 million in competitive and discretionary awards, and she represents the capital program on the Airport Airline Affairs Committee.

McLean said Sumner has shown an unmatched commitment to the airport's growth. "I look forward to her insights and leadership for years to come," McLean said.

Sumner said she is honored to serve as the next director. "As Boise and the surrounding region continue to grow, I look forward to building on the Airport's strong foundation and working alongside our talented team, fellow city leaders, and community partners to support the economic vitality of Boise and the Treasure Valley," she said.

Before joining the airport, Sumner worked as senior executive for installation operations at Gowen Field, the military side of Boise Airport's joint civil-military airfield, and served as Deputy Director of the 124th Fighter Wing, a 1,100-person Aviation Enterprise. She spent 26 years in the United States Air Force and Air National Guard and deployed overseas three times. Sumner holds a bachelor's degree in engineering sciences from the United States Air Force Academy, where she graduated with military distinction, and a Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

City Council meetings are open to the public and livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel. The meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 10, is regularly scheduled.