DATE: January 27, 2016
MEDIA CONTACT: Greg Meyer, Public Information Officer
PHONE: 954-359-6116
EMAIL: gmeyer@broward.org
BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward County Administrator Bertha Henry has announced that Aviation Department Director Kent G. George is retiring later this year. His proposed replacement, Mark E. Gale, is in Fort Lauderdale today meeting with County Commissioners.
Pending confirmation by the Board of County Commissioners, Gale is expected to take over as Director of Aviation for Broward County in March, including leadership of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and North Perry Airport (HWO). Gale recently left Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) after serving as the airport's Chief Executive Officer for seven of his nearly 28 years there.
Gale graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and joined Philadelphia International full-time in 1989.
From 1996 to 2000, Gale was airport operations manager. In 2001, as deputy director of aviation for operations and facilities, he supervised managers in security, safety, maintenance, information technology, engineering design, construction, emergency plans, grounds, and snow removal. Gale also managed daily operations at Northeast Philadelphia Airport, a general aviation reliever airport. In 2009, he became the airport's Chief Executive Officer.
Gale was named Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) Executive of the Year in 2012, received the SmartCEO Circle of Excellence Award in Hospitality in 2013, and received the Sec. Ray LaHood "Man of the Year Award" in 2015 by Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS), Philadelphia Chapter.
Kent George began his career with Broward County in October 2007, after more than 40 years in the aviation industry. Among his many accomplishments at FLL was execution of the Broward County Commission's vision to build a new South Runway, which opened under budget and on time in September 2014. He helped transform the airport with a major terminal modernization program and $2.3 billion capital improvement program. In 2015, the western portion of Terminal 4 opened with five new gates and a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification, demonstrating Broward County's commitment to the community and the environment.
In 2012, George was honored by Airport Revenue News as Airport Director of the Year, large airports category. In 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Southern Region recognized George as its Air Carrier Airport Manager of the Year.
George is expected to stay engaged in department operations through a transition period.
About Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
The Aviation Department is a self-supporting department of Broward County Board of County Commissioners. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is located in South Florida in the heart of Greater Fort Lauderdale's Gold Coast. The Airport is ranked 21st in the United States in total passenger traffic and 13th in domestic origin and destination passengers. With more than 600 flights a day, the Airport offers non-stop service to more than 60 U.S. cities and international service to Canada, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico, Latin American and Europe. The Aviation Department also operates the North Perry Airport, a general aviation airport for private and charter aircraft operators. Call 954-359-6100 for more information. For updates on airport programs and services, follow us on Twitter@FLLFlyer or visit fll.net