The Chehalis-Centralia Airport has a new manager.
Dave Fleckenstein was appointed by City Manager Merlin MacReynold Wednesday morning, and will begin work July 13 following his retirement from the U.S. Army.
“I am very pleased that Dave will be joining our city administration,” MacReynold said in a press release. “Dave brings a wealth of management, aviation, organization and leadership skills to our city and community that made him the right fit for our city.”
The new manager was chosen from an initial pool of 22 applicants, four of whom were later selected as finalists. After a round of interviews earlier in May, MacReynold said there was no clear frontrunner for the position, and all candidates were interviewed once again.
The manager will play a large role in shaping the future of the airport by creating an operational plan for the commercial side of the airport, MacReynold said previously.
Fleckenstein is a career Army aviation officer and has more than 23 years of aviation experience. He currently serves as the director of I-Corp Aviation Operations at Joint Base Lewis McChord, and is responsible for overseeing the reorganization of aviation assets as well as projects to improve aviation training, safety and operations.
His military decorations and awards include two bronze star medals, five meritorious service medals and three air medals.
Originally from Huntington, West Virginia, Fleckenstein has a master’s degree from South Dakota State University in educational administration, and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He also completed basic and advanced initial entry rotary wing courses and aviation officer courses.
Currently, he resides in Olympia with his two children and his wife, but he plans on relocating closer to Chehalis.
Fleckenstein will replace longtime manager Allyn Roe, who is now the executive director of the Industrial Park at TransAlta.
The airport is operated solely by the city of Chehalis after the county relinquished its ownership in 2014. It has a total budget of $2.9 million.
