Katelyn Sanders landed her first job as an airport manager at age 21. At the time, she was studying aviation management at Middle Tennessee State University, where she went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in aviation and aerospace science and technology in 2022. During her coursework, Ms. Sanders was informed by one of her professors that Smithville Municipal Airport in Tennessee was searching for a qualified candidate for a great opportunity. Despite feeling uncertain about her qualifications then, she took the initiative and applied for the role. To her surprise, she landed the position while she was still a college senior and became one of the youngest airport managers in the country, launching her career in the industry. After the two-year stint, Ms. Sanders was hired in 2023 at Winchester Municipal Airport, where today she is the airport manager.
Living by the adage, “If it’s meant to be, then it’s meant to be,” Ms. Sanders advises others seeking to flourish in any industry to never let anyone hold them back or dictate what they can achieve. She stresses the importance of never being afraid to ask questions and of taking risks in pursuit of goals, traits that have been the secrets to her success. This is especially important since aviation is a mostly male industry, with women comprising barely 10% of the workforce. Ms. Sanders took the responsibility of being a trailblazer in the field very seriously as a young woman in a position of authority, and she strives to set an example for other aspiring women.
While working at Smithville Municipal Airport, Ms. Sanders was the only staff member, meaning she had to manage everything on her own. The experience, while challenging, taught her immeasurable lessons about what it takes to thrive in the field. Since then, she has learned about virtually every aspect of the business, including the inner workings of government agencies like the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration, how small planes are fueled, and how state and government grant funding works. Already an accomplished leader as an airport manager, Ms. Sanders collaborates with engineers and other experts, continuing to establish a solid foundation for her own professional growth. As she develops, she always seeks to expand her knowledge and transform her skill set to realize all her goals and dreams.
Starting out in 2017, Ms. Sanders was a pharmacy technician and earned an associate degree in medicine from Chattanooga State Community College. Further, she became a licensed pharmaceutical technician in Tennessee. Before accepting her role as an airport manager with Smithville Municipal Airport, she worked as a data entry specialist for Tridens Builders in 2020. Still committed to lifelong learning, Ms. Sanders plans to pursue a master’s degree in space operations and potentially shift her focus toward large aerospace companies such as Lockheed Martin or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, better known as NASA.
Ms. Sanders enjoys planning airport events and is well-known for her dedication to community outreach. Notably, at Smithville Municipal Airport, she held the first event in more than a decade, arranging for food trucks, airplanes, and vendors and tackling many more logistical challenges. Similarly, today, she serves on the planning committee for the Tennessee Aviation Association and has spent years speaking at the organization’s conferences. Ms. Sanders is passionate about influencing the future of the aviation industry and delights in seeing youth take an interest in the field, believing it is often overlooked in favor of flashier aspects like air travel. Active in building professional networks—a practice she promotes to aspiring professionals—Ms. Sanders is a member of Women in Aviation, Nashville 99, and the Experimental Aircraft Association.
