A new director of the East Kern Airport District board, which operates the Mojave Air and Space Port, was elected Nov. 6.
He is Allan L. Peterson, who has been president and CEO of the National Test Pilot School since June 2011. Peterson is a West Point graduate, with more than 3,500 flying hours on about 60 different rotary and fixed wing aircraft. He also holds a doctorate in engineering technology. Peterson is an Associate Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
Four candidates were vying for three open positions on the board.
The candidates, and results were:
Candidate Number of votes Year first elected
Dick Rutan 2496 2003
Alan L Peterson 2384 2012
Cathy Hansen 2312 1995
Jim Balentine 1969 1994
Hansen, however, retired from the board Oct. 15 citing personal reasons. The new board, which also includes holdovers Marie Walker and Joanne Painter, gets to select the fifth member.
In the 11 years since the largely stable board selected Stuart Witt as general manager and CEO, the airport has prospered. It is now fully leased, and tenants employ about 700 people. There were previously just about 60 people. The 20212-2013 air/space port budget is $12,608,778 and it is balanced. The airport is self supporting.
