Former Airport General Manager Dick Lightner Returns for Third Tour of Duty, to Serve as Airport’s Interim GM

The Airport District Board has drawn on a familiar face to oversee airport operations in the absence of General Manager Garry Dokter whose contract, initiated in February 2006, was not renewed, per a decision made on May 6. Former Airport General Manager Dick Lightner had expressed to the Board that he would be willing to serve as interim GM, which led to the Board’s selection when they convened in closed session yesterday afternoon, May 14. Lightner’s 30-year career with the airport dates back to 1974; he started in the maintenance department and worked his way up to General Manager, a position he held for 10 years prior to retiring in 2004, though he returned to serve as interim GM in 2005 prior to the hiring of Dokter. Though specifics of the agreement have not yet been determined for this, Lightner’s third round at the airport, he will oversee day-to-day operations; a start date has not yet been announced. The Airport District Board’s Personnel Committee will meet to make their recommendations in terms of how a new, permanent GM will be selected, though that meeting date has not yet been set; the plan is to have the Personnel Committee convene prior to the next regular meeting of the Board, which will be held on Wednesday, June 3 at 2pm.