Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) is pleased to welcome John D. Clark, III, A.A.E, Executive Director/CEO of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA), as its chairman for 2009. Clark was elected at the ACI-NA Annual General Membership Business meeting on Sept. 24 in Boston, and officially began his role as chair on Jan. 1, 2009.

“John is respected throughout the global airport industry as a visionary thinker,” said Greg Principato, ACI-NA president. “With his wealth of industry experience and deep commitment to ACI-NA, our members can feel assured with John at the helm during this challenging time.”

A longtime aviation professional, Clark served as Vice President of Aviation for the Jacksonville Port Authority from September 1996 through September 2001. On Oct. 1, 2001, Mr. Clark began his role as Executive Director/CEO of the JAA.

As Executive Director/CEO, Mr. Clark oversees, manages and develops Jacksonville’s Airport System, which includes Jacksonville International Airport (JIA), Craig and Herlong Airports, as well as Cecil Field. He has been instrumental in the development and ongoing implementation of a $230 million, terminal expansion project for JIA which handles over 6 million passengers and 140 million pounds of air cargo annually. Additionally, he was active in overseeing the conversion of Cecil Field from a military facility to Jacksonville’s fourth civilian airport.

Prior to coming to Jacksonville, he worked as the City of Detroit’s Airport Director/CEO and held management positions with airports in Sacramento County and City of Fresno, California.

An accredited airport executive, John is a past board member of the American Association of Airport Executives, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce (COC), and the Cornerstone Executive Committee. He is a past chairman of Jacksonville and the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau, past chairman of the Jacksonville Urban League, and the COC Business Recruitment Committee.

Until recently, he served on the Board of Directors of the Wolfson Children’s Hospital (WCH), and Chaired the WCH Resource Development Committee. He is a past board member of the North Florida Council Boy Scouts of America – Council’s Executive Board, and the CVB Advocacy Task Force. John is currently on the Board, and is the First Vice Chair, of ACI-NA, and on the ACI World Governing Board, the Jacksonville University Board and the ENO Transportation Foundation-Advisory Board.

FMI: www.aci-na.org