Ron Reichel is an accomplished Airport Manager, Safety & Risk, and SMS Manager at Sacramento International Airport (SMF). Ron established an FAA-compliant SMS program at SMF, which is currently in the continuous improvement stage. His efforts led SMF to become the first airport in the United States to submit a SMS Implementation Plan to the FAA when the Airport SMS rule came into effect on April 24, 2023. With over 20 years of aviation safety and training experience, Ron’s expertise extends from his law enforcement pilot and senior leadership roles at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). His journey with Safety Management Systems (SMS) began in 2010, when he spearheaded the implementation of a successful SMS for CBP Air & Marine Operations. During his tenure with CBP Air & Marine Operations, Ron oversaw and managed the health and welfare of the world’s largest civilian aviation and maritime law enforcement organization by leading safety, risk management, training, standardization, and accident investigation programs. Ron has a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Sciences and ongoing professional development, including C.M. and ACE certifications from AAAE; completion of USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s Safety and Security Certificate Program, three NTSB accident investigation courses; Leadership Strategies, The Effective Facilitator; and Human Factors Analysis and Classification Systems, also known as HFACS. In addition, Ron has been an FAA licensed pilot for the past 35 years.