Joshua Marcy (aka known as “Marcy”) began his career in the airline industry as a part time, 15-year-old janitor, working at a naval base near Memphis, Tennessee. Over the next several years he worked in Austin, Texas and later moved to Seattle. During that time, he served in several positions but realized that ongoing education would open more opportunities for him.

After getting a degree in Aviation Administration and a Masters in Aviation and Aerospace Management, he landed a position with the Port of Seattle. An opening at Paine Field had him taking on the position as Deputy Director. After getting an Accredited Airport Executive designation, he was promoted to Airport Director in May, 2023.

Paine Field, named after second Lt. Paine (a local boy from Everett, and later recognized for his exploits as an airline mail carrier) is a small international airport serving commercial and general aviation. It also serves the greater Seattle area, recently being tagged into SeaTac’s marketing taglines.

A distinction that is not always recognized, is that the airport and the airline terminal are separate entities. While Marcy oversees the airport and all its tenants, Propeller Airports owns and operates the terminal. This means that when the public has questions about flight paths, noise mitigation, altitude levels, and other related queries, knowing whom to contact is important.

Some of the tenants of the airport are obvious, such as the museums. Future of Flight, Flying Heritage (now owned by Steuart Walton – Walmart), and Museum of Flight Restoration. The FedEx space now sits where the Dreamlifter Operations Center held court, and there are numerous other aerospace companies dotting the field. Paine Field holds the third largest aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in North America. It is also home to over 550 general aviation aircraft.

One huge company that dominates our skyline is Boeing which does not actually sit on Paine Field but does have access to the runways. The partnership with Boeing is ongoing and beneficial to our economy. To that end, they have priority over commercial airlines for use of the runways and other Paine Field offerings. Paine Field understands the importance of providing a usable and consistent product to one of the largest employees in our area.

Marcy invites the community to come visit Paine Field. If you have not already taken a peek at the airport terminal, do so. It is surprisingly luxurious, and with a nearly non-existent TSA line, is very appealing to air travelers. Come visit an aerospace museum, whether its for a blast to the past with aircraft and land vehicles (Wartime History Museum), or a look to the future with drones and other tech related aircraft displays (Future of Flight)… there’s something for everyone. Mark your calendar, because Aviation Day, 2024 is scheduled for May 18th and is a fun, local attraction to begin next summer’s activities.

We are fortunate to have a local airport with such diverse offerings. For more information: www.SnoCo.org.