Deputy Albany County Executive New CEO of the Albany County Airport Authority

    Oct. 25, 2019

    By Eric Anderson

    Source Times Union, Albany, N.Y. (TNS)

    COLONIE — Deputy Albany County Executive Phil Calderone is the new CEO of the Albany County Airport Authority, succeeding John O'Donnell, who will retire.

    Calderone will take over before the end of November at an annual salary of $185,000.

    “The Board and I are extremely pleased that someone of the leadership depth and experience of Phil Calderone will be taking the reins of our thriving airport from our very effective current CEO John O’Donnel," said Rev. Kenneth Doyle, who chairs the airport board. "We anticipate a seamless transition, especially because Phil has such a depth of knowledge of the Capital District, given his extended service, first as Deputy Mayor of Albany for 17 years and his recent position as Deputy Albany County Executive and Counsel.”

    Calderone is the second leadership hire at the airport in recent months. Earlier, Michael F. Zonsius was approved to be chief financial officer by the board of Albany County Airport Authority during a meeting on Sept. 5. Zonsius previously was CFO for the Chicago Department of Aviation, where he managed financial operations at O'Hare and Midway International Airports.

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    The Times Union earlier this month reported that Calderone was one of a handful of people who were being considered by the pubic authority board to be the airport's new leader.

    O'Donnell, who is a professional engineer, has been the airport's CEO for 16 years, after joining the airport as its first director of project development in 1996.

    Calderone was one of a half dozen candidates being considered for the position.

    Calderone, an Albany native, graduated from Siena College in 1977 and Albany Law School  in 1981. He has a long private and public employment history in Albany, earlier serving as the city's deputy mayor. He also has very extensive civic board experience.

    The Authority said in a news release that it received more than 50 applications for the CEO post and interviewed seven finalists. Calderone's appointment was announced Thursday afternoon, following a closed-door meeting of the authority Thursday morning.

    Albany International Airport has seen strong passenger growth this year and is in the midst of completing several major construction projects, including a five-level, 1,000-vehicle parking garage.

    The Cuomo administration is completing work on the long-planned Exit 3, which is intended to improve connections between the Adirondack Northway and the airport terminal. That work is expected to be completed by late December.

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    Josh Smith