Board Members
The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority is governed by a nine-member Board, with three additional members serving ex officio. Board members serve 3-year terms and may be reappointed.
Board Member Bios (in alphabetical order)
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Bruce R. Boland
Email - 619.400.2408
Bruce Boland is a retired Rear Admiral U.S. Navy with a Naval Service career of more than 30 years. He was a Naval Aviator involved in Fighter Carrier Aviation and commanded Fighter Squadron 24 at Naval Air Station Miramar flying F8 Crusaders. His Navy career culminated with his appointment in 1985 as the Navy’s regional commander in San Diego. In 1987 he was appointed Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and later the Director of Public Works for the County of San Diego. One of his responsibilities at the County included oversight of the eight County owned airports. He was appointed in 1993 as President/CEO of the United Way of San Diego County and served until 1999.
Mr. Boland has a Bachelor's Degree in Government from the
Naval Postgraduate School, a Master's Degree in Systems Management
from the University of Southern California and is a graduate
of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He continues
his interest in aviation by flying his privately owned aircraft.
City of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders appointed Mr. Boland
to the Board for a term ending on January 31, 2012. |
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Jim Desmond
Email - 619.400.2408
A fifteen year resident of San Marcos, Mr. Desmond was elected mayor of San Marcos in November 2006. Active in his community, he served as a San Marcos City Council member, Planning Commissioner, Chamber of Commerce Board member, and as President of the San Marcos Economic Development Corp.
Mr. Desmond is a Federal Aviation Association (FAA) Certified Flight Instructor and a Pilot/Captain for Delta Airlines based in Los Angeles International Airport. He has flown Boeing 757s and 767s for 20 years. He is a U.S. Navy veteran with two letters of commendation and an honorable discharge. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from San Diego State University. The mayors of north inland cities appointed Mayor Desmond to a term ending on January 31, 2012. |
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Ramona Finnila, Executive Committee Member
Email - 619.400.2408
Ramona Finnila served on the Carlsbad City Council for 12 years. During that time she was Carlsbad’s representative to SANDAG where she served two-year terms as Vice-Chair and then Chair. She was also on the Executive Committee of the Local Government Commission, which is based in Sacramento.
Ms. Finnila’s current positions include: Chair of McClellan-Palomar Advisory Committee; Associate of Niche Ventures, an aviation consortium; Member of the University Council at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM); and a member of the Business Advisory Council at CSUSM. In 2004 she founded Finnila and Associates, a project-based consulting firm located in Carlsbad. The mayors of north coastal cities appointed Ms. Finnila to a term ending on January 31, 2011. |
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Pedro Orso-Delgado, Ex-Officio Member
Pedro Orso-Delgado is the District 11 Director of Caltrans, the state agency responsible for highway, bridge, and rail transportation. He was appointed in January 2008 and manages a $7.7 billion budget and more than 1,350 employees. His 24-year civil service career at Caltrans began as a Junior Civil Engineer in 1984. Through the years he has earned appointments as an Associate Transportation Engineer, Senior Transportation Engineer, Deputy District Director of Maintenance and Deputy District Director of Program Project Management.
Mr. Orso-Delgado, a San Diego native, grew up in the Southern California region attending schools in both San Diego and Tijuana. He attended Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista and graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. Mr. Orso-Delgado occupies an ex-officio seat on the Board designated for the Caltrans District 11 Director. |
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Jim Panknin
Email - 619.400.2408
James “Jim” Panknin has worked in aviation-related activities for over 25 years. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. He successfully completed a 20 year career as a Marine Corps Pilot flying helicopters and turboprop aircraft in airports all over the world. Mr. Panknin currently works as a commercial charter pilot based at Lindbergh Field and as a public and government relations consultant. He was elected as the first Chairman of the Airport Authority’s Advisory Committee. Mr. Panknin is active in his community, serving as Director on the Santee School District Foundation, a Santee representative to the Miramar Community Leaders Forum and a member of the Miramar Technical Advisory Committee. The mayors of East San Diego County appointed Mr. Panknin to the Board for a term ending on January 31, 2010. |
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Thomas L. Sheehy, Ex-Officio Member
Thomas L. Sheehy has two decades of experience in public policy issues and management. He served as the Deputy Director of Finance from 2006 till 2008 representing the Administration before the Legislature testifying on hundreds of bills. He was the western Regional Vice President for TIAA-CREF state government affairs from 2004 to 2006. He served for 10 years in the California Legislature as a Principal Consultant to the Assembly Appropriations and Budget Committees from 1995 to 1999. Mr. Sheehy served at the Department of Finance from 1989 to 1993 as a staff analyst, followed by two years as Chief of the Budget Development Branch at the Department of Transportation, which included $2 billion support budget and $3 billion capital outlay program. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1982 from the University of California at Davis with honors, and his Master of administration (MBA) from the Graduate School of Management at U.C. Davis. Sheehy occupies an ex-officio seat on the Board designated for a representative of the California Department of Finance, State Land Commission. |
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Tom Smisek
Email - 619.400.2408
A long time resident of Coronado, Mr. Smisek was first elected to the Coronado City Council in 1992. He was elected Mayor in November, 1996 and re-elected in November 2000 and 2004. Active in his community, he served as City Councilmember and Planning Commissioner for the City of Coronado for eight years before becoming Mayor. He also served as a Board member on the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Board and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Board.
After graduating from Coronado High School, he received a B.S. Aeronautical Engineering degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, and a M.S. Management Science degree from U.S. International University. He served in the U.S. Navy and Navy reserve for 26 years and flew the F-8 Crusader in Vietnam, was a TOPGUN graduate, and then flew the A-4 as an adversary instructor. Mr. Smisek had three commands in the Naval Reserve and retired as a Captain. Other aviation experience included 10 years with Tracor Flight Systems as a tactical analyst and Program Manager at Nellis AFB, NAS Miramar, and Mojave Airport. He completed 25 years of flying with Western Airlines and Delta Airlines as a Captain. He was a member of the joint Port Authority/SANDAG Committee that started the new Master Plan for San Diego International Airport in 1997. The mayors of south county cities appointed Mr. Smisek to a term ending on January 31, 2012. |
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Bob Watkins, Vice Chair, Executive Committee Member
Email - 619.400.2408
Bob Watkins is the founder, President and Chairman of R.J. Watkins & Company, Ltd. with offices in San Francisco, San Diego and London, since 1980. Mr. Watkins’ experience includes President /CEO of a $250 million entertainment & technologies company, and a four-year role as Managing Director of the San Diego office of the international consulting firm of Russell Reynolds Associates. He has held executive positions with American Hospital Supply Corporation and Deloitte & Touche.
Mr. Watkins currently serves on the Boards of the San Diego County Board of Education, San Diego Economic Development Corporation, Corporate Directors Forum, La Jolla Institute for Molecular Medicine, Regenesis Biomedical, Inc, and is Chairman of the United States Rugby Foundation. He is a founding member and Trustee of the San Diego National Sports Foundation/ US Olympic Training Center. He is a graduate of San Diego State University. San Diego County Sheriff Bill Kolendar appointed Mr. Watkins to the Board for a term ending on January 31, 2010. |
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Anthony Young
Email - 619.400.2408
A life-long resident of San Diego, Mr. Young was elected City Councilmember in January 2005 and was appointed City Council President Pro Tem in January 2006. He graduated from Howard University in Washington, DC with a Bachelor of Science degree in socio-economics. After graduation he earned his teaching credentials at the University of San Diego on a full academic scholarship. Prior to his election to City Council, he served as Chief of Staff to the late City Councilmember Charles L. Lewis III, Legislative Aide to San Diego County Supervisor Leon Williams and Intern for Congressman Jim Bates. He also taught within the San Diego City School District for many years. He represents the City of San Diego and was appointed by City of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. Mr. Young's term ends on January 31, 2010. |
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Charlene Zettel
Email - 619.400.2408
Charlene Zettel was one of the original members of the Airport Authority Board when it was created in 2003. Appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ms. Zettel served as the Director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs from March 2004 to March 2007. Charlene was the first Republican Latina elected to the state legislature, serving two terms in the State Assembly from 1998 to 2002. Previously, she was elected to the Poway Unified School District Board of Education, serving in that office for six years. In addition to state service, Ms. Zettel has been a Public Interest Director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter of the Red Cross. Raised in Los Angeles, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry. Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Ms. Zettel to the Board for a term ending on June 30, 2011. |
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Thella F. Bowens, President/CEO
In March 2003, Thella F. Bowens was appointed President/CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, the owner and operator of San Diego International Airport as of January 1, 2003. As President/CEO, Ms. Bowens is responsible for management oversight of the Authority, the Authority’s $145.0 million annual budget and approximately 380 employees.
Prior to 2003, when the San Diego Unified Port District operated the Airport,
Ms. Bowens was the Port’s Senior Director of Aviation for seven years. From September 2001 through December 2002, simultaneous with her position at the Port, she wore the hat of Interim Executive Director/President of the new Authority as required by State legislation which created the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. In that role, she performed the monumental task of planning the transfer of the Airport.
Prior to coming to San Diego, Ms. Bowens served as the Deputy Executive Director of Kansas City’s Aviation Department which included Kansas City International Airport and the city’s two general aviation airports. She previously served as Budget Administrator for the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport in Texas. She has acquired 35 years of experience in public administration, with the last 21 years in the aviation field.
Ms. Bowens holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Barnard College of Columbia University and has done graduate work at the University of North Texas and University of Missouri-Kansas City. She is also a graduate of the Executive Leadership Institute sponsored by the National Forum for Black Public Administrators.
In addition to her professional associations, Ms. Bowens is a member of the boards of the National Conflict Resolution Center, the San Diego World Trade Center, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the American Association of Airport Executives Policy Review Committee. In 2007, she completed a second three-year term on the board of Airports Council International – North America, and also previously served on the boards of the San Diego United Way and the San Diego Symphony.
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