Sacramento, CA — Sacramento International Airport (SMF) congratulates its 2026 class of summer interns. The internship program gave four college students paid, hands-on experience across the diverse disciplines that keep an airport operating and growing.
Interns worked in Airside Operations, Landside Operations, Planning and Environmental, and Design and Development. Working alongside airport professionals, students contributed to real projects while gaining a behind-the-scenes look at the coordination, expertise and regulatory requirements involved in operating a major commercial airport.
“An airport is essentially a small city, and there is an incredible variety of expertise required to keep it running,” said Cindy Nichol, Director of Airports for Sacramento County. “Internships allow us to introduce students to the intricacies of the aviation industry and career paths they may never have considered, while giving our employees an opportunity to share their knowledge and help develop the next generation of aviation professionals.”
Airside Operations intern Leo Falcis gained experience with airfield inspections, emergency response, regulatory compliance, wildlife hazard management, construction coordination and preparations for SMF’s 2026 FAA Part 139 Triennial Emergency Exercise. The experience reinforced his plans to pursue airport operations as a career.
“Working alongside experienced airport employees showed me how much coordination and attention to detail go into keeping an airport safe and operational every day,” Falcis said. “The experience strengthened my passion for airport operations and confirmed that this is the career path I want to pursue.”
Landside Operations intern Brianna Schultz rotated through multiple areas, including landside and airside operations, construction coordination, airport security, customer experience, emergency preparedness and safety management. Her assignments were designed to show how each function contributes to what she described as the “mini-city within an airport.”
“My biggest takeaway was seeing SMF’s value of making something better every day in action, both in the work employees do and in how they treat passengers and each other,” Schultz said. “This internship helped steer me toward a career in airport operations and gave me an even greater appreciation for the industry.”
The Planning and Environmental intern, Shayden Eagleheart, supported environmental compliance and sustainability initiatives, including SMF’s Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program. She worked with project managers to track mitigation measures and documentation and researched sustainability programs at peer airports to help identify opportunities for SMF. She also met with employees in other airport divisions to gain a broader understanding of airport administration.
In Design and Development, Athena Wilson supported the team with technical and project work, including documenting regulatory signage and mapping paved airfield and landside surfaces by use and pavement type. She also gained firsthand exposure to airport design and construction by shadowing engineers and architects during project site visits, meetings and interviews. Athena will continue her internship beyond the summer, expanding her experience with GIS, CAD, field verification and other technical project work.
The internships are designed to move beyond classroom learning by giving students direct experience in a 24/7 airport environment, opportunities to contribute to real projects and connections with aviation professionals. For SMF, the program is also an investment in the future aviation workforce and an opportunity to introduce students to the wide range of careers available within the industry.
All Sacramento County internships, including for Department of Airports are found at Internships.
