City officials have named a new manager of Frederick Municipal Airport effective November 1, 2013.
CONTACT: Susan S. Harding, Public Information Officer, 301-600-1385
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, October 28, 2013
City Hires New Airport Manager
Frederick, MD -- City officials have named a new manager of Frederick Municipal Airport effective November 1, 2013. Christopher Lawler of Frederick will take over management of the airport following the departure this past August of long time airport manager Kevin Daugherty. Daugherty left to take over management of the Brooksville Tampa Bay Regional Airport in Hernando County Florida. The hiring process was overseen by the City of Frederick Human Resources Department. There were over 30 applicants for the position.
Christopher Lawler has been a professional pilot and most recently employed by The Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association (AOPA), an international association which is headquartered here in Frederick at the Frederick Municipal Airport. Mr. Lawler worked for AOPA as a program manager working with general aviation airports like Frederick across the country on unique issues related to aviation. He holds a BS in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle and is completing an MBA in Aviation from the same. He is a member of American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and is a Frederick city resident. Mr. Lawler is a lifelong aviator who enjoys both the service and recreational side of aviation. According to a statement by Lawler, “My primary focus will be on ensuring top safety, service, and economic growth at the airport in conjunction with our partners at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA).”
“We are delighted to add Mr. Lawler to the team here at Frederick Municipal Airport as he brings unique skills as a pilot and having worked closely with general aviation airports across the country” stated Mr. Arthur Dee, Chairman of the Airport Commission. The Commission is a seven-member advisory body appointed by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. Mr. Dee indicated that “the City in conjunction with its partners intends to lengthen the runway to 6,000 feet and add hangars for corporate and private aircraft as funding becomes available.”
According to Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development who oversees the airport staff, “The city is determined to position Frederick Municipal Airport as the preferred executive airport in the Baltimore Washington region.” He added that “I am very confident in the capabilities of staff team consisting of the new manager Chris Lawler, Assistant Manager Rick Johnson, and Transportation Planner Tim Davis, to move forward with implementation of approved plans to build infrastructure, increase operations, attract more based-aircraft, and generate jobs and revenue.” The Assistant Airport Manager Rick Johnson has been serving as the Acting Manager since August.
The 616 acre Frederick Municipal Airport started operations in 1949 and is the second busiest airport in Maryland. It serves as the primary general aviation reliever airport for Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) with more than 110,000 annual aircraft operations. Approximately 300 businesses use the airport each year for corporate travel and 226 aircraft are based at the airport.
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