The Springfield-Branson National Airport has a new director of aviation. The new director was announced at a news conference at the airport on Thursday afternoon. Brian Weiler replaces Gary Cyr, who retired April 1.
Weiler is the multimodal director for the Missouri Department of Transportation. He's been with MoDOT for 15 years. He's responsible for state government involvement in aviation, rail, waterways, transit and freight development.
Before that, he was the director of aviation for the Johnson County Airport Commission in Johnson County, Kansas and managed airports in St. Joseph and in Martin County, Fla. Weiler also served in the U.S. Marine Corp as an air traffic controller, he has a bachelor's degree in Professional Aeronautics and a master's degree in Aviation Safety. He has a private pilot's license and is married with four children.
Weiler says he's excited to come to the Springfield-Branson National Airport.
"I came from aviation and local government. It is my love, and it is my passion. So the opportunity to get back involved in that in such a great facility as this is one I just could not pass up," he told reporters.
"Let me tell you about the Brian Weiler I know. First of all, he's a class act. He is a professional. He is a person with a rare combination of technical skills, but also very strong people skills," said Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce President Jim Anderson.
Weiler's first day on the job will be Aug. 1. Weiler was one of 64 candidates for the job, which had an application deadline of April 15. The Airport Board formed a selection committee and that group of nine people narrowed down the list of candidates, bringing in the top three for on-site interviews this month.
Weiler's salary will be the same as Cyr's salary when he left: $119,000. ========
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