Rhonda Chambers, the director of aviation at Fort Dodge Regional Airport for about 29 years, will retire this summer.

Chambers said Friday that she has set July 31 as her retirement date and submitted that to the city. The city government has posted the job position, beginning the search for her replacement.

During her tenure in Fort Dodge, Chambers was known for her enthusiasm for all things aviation. She frequently told people “A mile of highway will take you a mile, but a mile of runway will take you anywhere.”

“Right now I’m experiencing so many ‘lasts’ as I prepare for the next chapter,” she said. “It’s a mix of emotions — overwhelming, sentimental and exciting all at once.”

The Manson area native began her aviation career in 1980. She worked at the former Denver Stapleton International Airport in Colorado and Love Field in Dallas, Texas, before coming to Fort Dodge.

“I am beyond grateful and blessed to have spent my career doing work I truly love,” she said.