On Tuesday Mayor-elect Jim Kenney announced that Diego Rincón will serve as deputy director of aviation and capital development at Philadelphia International Airport.

As Philadelphia continues to grow its reputation as a world-class city, improving the airport becomes a top priority. Rincón will oversee major construction and engineering projects that fall under the umbrella of capital development. He'll be charged with bringing innovative ideas to the table to help expand the airport's prominence under the Kenney administration.

“I can't think of anyone more qualified to lead our Airport's capital development than Diego Rincón," Kenney said in a statement. "He has managed airport construction and expansion in over a dozen different cities and countries, and his engineering expertise makes him all the more prepared to handle the tasks ahead. I look forward to working with him."

Indeed, Rincón's aviation experience spans 20 years between airports in Washington, D.C., Dallas, Texas, and Mumbai. He has also served in consulting senior executive positions in airports across the Middle East to Latin America. Kenney praised his accreditation in planning, engineering, airport operations, program management and construction management.

A handful of other announcements were made alongside the one about Rincón: Folasade "Sade" A. Olanipekun-Lewis, who currently serves as City Council President Darrell Clarke's chief financial officer, will become the airport's chief administrative officer come January. In addition, Kenney also announced that Keith Brune will continue to serve in his capacity as deputy director of aviation.

The appointment process will continue on through the New Year, as Kenney still has several dozen positions left to fill in his cabinet. 

Kenney’s spokeswoman Lauren Hitt said that the team is “100 percent committed to having an administration that reflects the diversity of Philadelphia.” While Rincón is the first Latino retained by the administration, Kenney’s enormous and fairly diverse transition team is co-chaired by Alba Martinez. The board features numerous Latino and Latina committee members “who are directly involved in our personnel decisions.” 

Updated at 9:57 a.m., Dec. 15, 2015, to reflect a change in the Kenney appointment schedule; and at 3:09 p.m. to reflect that Rincón was not appointed but retained and selected to lead the airport leadership team.