Palm Springs announces two changes to city leadership team

The City of Palm Springs announced two changes to its leadership ranks Monday, with Palm Springs International Airport Executive Director Harry Barrett Jr. set to depart for a role in Sacramento later this spring and Jasmine Fields named as the city’s new Director of Sustainability.

Barrett will leave Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) to become assistant director of the Sacramento County Department of Airports. He will remain in his current role through May 21 before beginning the new position on May 26.

During his time at PSP, the airport saw roughly 30% passenger growth, set multiple annual and monthly passenger records, and added nonstop service to more than a dozen new destinations. Barrett also advanced a master planning effort aimed at guiding the airport’s long-term modernization and helped strengthen relationships with airline partners.

City Manager Scott Stiles acknowledged Barrett’s contributions while expressing confidence in what remains in place at the airport.

“Harry has helped guide Palm Springs International Airport through an important period of growth and progress,” Stiles said. “We appreciate his leadership and his commitment to a thoughtful transition. PSP has a strong foundation, experienced leadership throughout the organization, and important work already underway that will continue without interruption.”

Airport Commission Chairman Kevin J. Corcoran echoed that outlook.

“Harry has played an important role in PSP’s recent success, helping strengthen airline relationships, improve the passenger experience, and advance critical planning efforts,” Corcoran said. “We thank him for his service and wish him continued success. PSP is well positioned for the future, with clear priorities that will continue guiding the airport forward.”

The city has not yet designated an interim executive director, and a timeline for recruiting Barrett’s replacement has not been determined. PSP’s existing executive leadership team will oversee day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives during the transition, and the city said travelers, airlines and community partners can expect business as usual.

On the sustainability front, Stiles also announced Monday that Jasmine Fields has been appointed Director of Sustainability, a position she will assume April 20. She replaces Lindsey-Paige McCloy, who left the city late last year to take a similar role in Pasadena.

Fields joins Palm Springs from the Borough of State College in Pennsylvania, where she served as Sustainability Program Officer and oversaw programs focused on environmental conservation, renewable energy, active transportation, waste minimization and greenhouse gas emission reductions. She previously worked as an Environmental AmeriCorps member with the Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Pennsylvania State University and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Global Stability with a concentration in Water Resource Management from Colorado State University. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Sustainability Management at the University of Southern California.

“We are pleased to welcome Jasmine Fields to Palm Springs and our executive management team,” Stiles said. “Her experience connecting climate strategy with community-based solutions will help advance the City’s sustainability goals.”

Palm Springs has made sustainability a central part of its long-term planning, with desert-specific concerns — including heat, water supply and resource management — driving those priorities.

“Palm Springs is uniquely positioned to lead on sustainability in a desert environment,” Fields said. “This work is about protecting resources, strengthening resilience and ensuring the City remains vibrant for future generations.”

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Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include information about Barrett’s departure.

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