MORGANTOWN — According to a press release issued late Thursday, the city of Morgantown has hired Jonathan Vrabel to be the new director of the Morgantown Municipal Airport.
Vrabel is a Cleveland area native and a graduate of The Ohio State University.
He has extensive experience in airport operations, quality improvement, technology and economic development. According to the press release, Vrabel has 25 years of executive aviation experience with Capital Area Regional Airport in Lansing, Mi., Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, and Dayton International Airport, both in Ohio, and Albany County Airport.
“I am thrilled to have Jonathan as part of the airport development team,” Morgantown City Manager Paul Brake said. “His experience in the aviation industry and economic development will prove instrumental in maximizing the potential of the airport.”
Vrabel was selected from a pool of 42 candidates. He and his wife are relocating from St. John’s, Mi., a suburb of Lansing. Vrabel will start in the position on Sept. 6.
“I am thrilled to join the city of Morgantown as the airport director,” said Vrabel. “I’m looking forward to working with the community on improving the services offered at the airport and making the Morgantown Municipal Airport a first-class facility for private and commercial customers.”
The previous airport director, Mick Galusky, retired “effective immediately” on April 25 after nine years with the airport and more than three years as its director.
Since Galusky’s retirement, Alexandra Stockdale, the city’s assistant city engineer, has split time between the engineering office and the airport, where she served as interim director.
Stockdale earned $43.32 per hour in that role. Morgantown Communications Manager Andrew Stacy said that is the same rate Galusky would have earned were he still in the position.
Stacy was not able to respond to a request for additional information, including Vrabel’s compensation package, in time for this report.
Brake previously said the city sought proposals from three national recruitment firms, but settled on ADK Consulting & Executive Search, a Florida-based firm that specializes in placing airport executives at a base cost of $19,600.
