Michael Giardino, shown standing at the podium, has been appointed by County Executive Maggie Brooks to serve as the new airport director.
Brockport is losing a village manager, but the county is gaining an airport director.
During a press conference this morning, County Executive Maggie Brooks announced her choice for the new director of the county airport: Michael Giardino. His permanent appointment depends on approval by the County Legislature. Republicans control the Legislature, and it's almost certain that they'll back Brooks' choice.
The airport has had an acting director since December, when then-director Susan Walsh was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. She had replaced David D'Amelio, who resigned after it came to light that he spent airport funds on business meetings at cigar bars and strip clubs.
Giardino lives in the city's Charlotte neighborhood - he's a Charlotte High School alum - and currently serves as Brockport's village manager. He's submitted his letter of resignation. Before that, he served as executive officer and deputy commander of Naval Air Station Key West in Florida. The 6,300-acre station has the exact same FAA oversight as civilian airports, says a press release from the county. It has a $55 million budget, compared to the county airport's $34 million budget, Brooks said.
A panel of county department heads recommended Giardino from a pool of more than 100 applicants. Brooks said he was an attractive candidate because of his aviation, security, administrative, and information technology background.
"He was the whole package," Brooks said. "He had everything."
Ted O'Brien,the county Legislature's Democratic leader, says he hasn't received much information about Giardino. The Democrats will want to examine whether his military aviation experience is transferable to a commercial operation, O'brien says.
"We've got some work to do, I think, to figure this one out," he says.
Comments for "Brooks announces her pick for airport director" (4)
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clint said on Feb. 21, 2012 at 9:22pm
Before City weighs in, let me guess what they will write. "What was the process? Were all the stake holders consulted? Is this cronyism?"
The Brooks administration made a well thought out choice. They cannot determine if his judgement will be faulty in the future. Might he go to a strip club? Buy cigars? Drive drunk? No one knows. But for today, and that is all we have, they (county) made a good choice!
It is offensive that Democrats actually are talking about his military experience is "transferable"...WTF, are you kidding me? Be the loyal opposition...not the brain dead bomb throwers!
EmJayEn said on Feb. 22, 2012 at 11:05am
I just hope that as his first act the new director will do something about the absurd name, "Rochester INTERNATIONAL Airport". The fact that the only directly accessible "international" location is Canada and then only to one or two cities results in this overblown appellation making us look like a bunch of rubes vainly trying to impress out-of-towners.
Did we really think that scrapping the perfectly acceptable name of "Monroe County Airport" somehow made Rochester look more important? Or made it a more desirable tourist destination or a more viable location for a business?
Reminds me of a conversation between Groucho and Chico Marx:
Chico - "Is this a barn or a stable?"
Groucho - "If you look at it, it's a barn. If you smell it, it's a stable."
Chico - "Well, let's just look at it."
Dave said on Feb. 23, 2012 at 10:17am
EmJayEn,
I see your point, but the current name fits in so well with the Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Rochester International Air Show, and the International Museum of Photography and Film. I'm probably missing a few others. Nothing says one-horse town like slapping the word "international" on everything. But I guess as long as at least one Canadian shows up, it's justified.
If it's any consolation, google "Rochester international" and you'll see that our unofficial sister city in Minnesota does the same thing.
EmJayEn said on Feb. 24, 2012 at 5:18am
Dave, you forgot the International House of Pancakes, of which Rochester has TWO !
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