The Legislature, by unanimous vote, confirmed County Administrator Joe Mareane’s appointment of Michael Hall as Interim Manager of Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. (Legislators Mike Sigler and Nathan Shinagawa were excused.) Mr. Hall will serve as Interim Airport Manager following the retirement of Airport Manager Bob Nicholas July 31, after 25 years of distinguished service.

Mr. Hall, an Ithaca native and longstanding member of the Tompkins County Air Service Board, will serve in the interim position until a permanent Manager is appointed.  A nationwide search for a permanent Airport Manager concluded without a consensus and the County has decided to undertake a new search.

A Cornell grad and former fighter pilot who rose to Air Force General, Mr. Hall’s responsibilities, during 27-year military career, included command of the 174^th fighter wing in Syracuse and management of Hancock Air base, the military version of an airport.  He also served as Commissioner of the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, the agency tasked with the administration of the Army and Air National Guard, and as the Chair of the NYS Disaster Preparedness Commission.  More recently Hall has played a key role in transforming the National Warplane Museum in Elmira into the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, a regional science academy for youth.

“Mike Hall is quite familiar with airport operations, the FAA, safety regulations governing airports, and how to lead and manage staff,” Administrator Mareane observed.   “At this important time in the life of our airport, he is someone who will serve not as a caretaker of the airport, but as one who will bring insights, energy, organizational skills, and leadership to the job as we work to optimize the efficiency and performance of the airport, and undertake a search for a new Manager.”

Compensation for the interim position will be at a comparable level to the current Airport Manager salary, but without the fringe benefit expense

 

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