Paul Szydelko

Improvements to Harry Reid Airport and the construction of a proposed reliever airport in southern Nevada will be managed by a new director of aviation, as Rosemary Vassiliadis announced she will be retiring after almost three decades of service.

Vassiliadis announced her retirement last month, effective Sept. 12. She has served as director of Clark County's airport system since 2013 after about 16 years as deputy director.

"Serving our community has been the honor of a lifetime," said Vassiliadis, the system's first woman director. "I am incredibly proud of the partnerships we've built, the milestones we've achieved and the foundation laid for the future."

Rosemary Vassiliadis Photo Credit: Clark County Department of Aviation

The system employs 18,000 people and comprises five airports, including four general aviation facilities that support flight schools as well as private jet and recreational activities.

For the second consecutive year, Reid Airport (formerly known as McCarran but retaining the LAS code) was ranked fifth busiest in the world in aircraft movements in 2024, according to Airports Council International. There were 613,973 landings and takeoffs that year, just a 0.4% increase from 2023 but an 11% jump from 2019, the last full year before the Covid-19 pandemic. Reid Airport served 58.5 million passengers in 2024, making it the eighth busiest airport in the U.S. by passenger volume.

Vassiliadis is leaving at a time when 26 new gates are planned to be added to Terminal 1 at Reid Airport, according to a concept presented to the Clark County Commission late last year. No timeline was provided for the improvements, which would include a more efficient pier design to replace the antiquated satellite gate layout.

A long-discussed idea to construct a supplemental airport about 30 miles south and west will also move forward after the departure of Vassiliadis. Reid Airport will remain the system's flagship even after the planned opening of that airport in 2037.

"There is no doubt that our airport system is well situated to continue to serve as the front door to (Southern Nevada's) mega-events, conventions, sporting events and so much more," Vassiliadis said.

Many accomplishments

Among the accomplishments during her tenure: The TSA designated the airport in 2019 as the nation's only Innovation Airport, serving as a testing ground for new screening technology before it was implemented in other airports. The tech included four automated screening lanes integrated with four computed tomography scanners, an integrated UV-C light sanitization system, credential authentication technology units and digital signage.

Vassiliadis was also proud of the airport's efforts to prevent human trafficking. Staff were trained in victim identification and worked with law enforcement to provide safe exit strategies. It was also one of the first airports to install multilingual signage in all restrooms.

As deputy director at the time, Vassiliadis helped the system in the aftermath of 9/11, when the national airspace was closed and the numerous security changes were imposed. She also led the airport through the pandemic, continuing to provide essential service during its outset and overseeing new health and safety measures as a result.