Board Members
The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority is governed by a twelve-member Board, with three members serving as the Executive Committee. The three members are appointed in the following manner: by the Mayor of the City of San Diego, and confirmed by a majority vote of the San Diego City Council; by the Governor, and confirmed by the State Senate; by the Sheriff of the County of San Diego, and confirmed by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Board members serve terms varying from 2 years to 6 years.
Board Member Bios (in alphabetical order)
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Chairman Alan D. Bersin, Executive Committee Member
Email - 619.400.2408
Alan Bersin served as California’s Secretary of Education between July 2005 and December 2006 in the Administration of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He served as Superintendent of Public Education in San Diego, the nation’s eighth largest urban school district between 1998 and 2005. Previously, Mr. Bersin served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of California for nearly five years and as the Attorney General’s Southwest Border Representative responsible for coordinating federal law enforcement on the border from South Texas to Southern California. He received his A.B. in government from Harvard University where he was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society. From 1969 to 1971, Mr. Bersin attended Balliol College at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. In 1974, he received his J.D. degree from the Yale Law School. City of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders appointed Mr. Bersin to the Board for a term ending on January 31, 2011. |
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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, 2009. |
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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, 2009. |
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Ramona Finnila, Vice Chair, 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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Jack Miller
Email - 619.400.2408
As the Senior Project Manager for Gafcon Inc., a construction consultant firm, Jack Miller oversees the Proposition R Bond Capital Project Program at Cuyamaca College. He served as Director of General Services for the County of San Diego for six years and eliminated the county’s $32 million Major Maintenance backlog over a three-year period. This accomplishment was recognized by the San Diego Taxpayers Association’s Golden Watchdog Award.
From 1991 to 1993 he served as the Deputy Director of the Airport Division for the County of San Diego and managed the operations, maintenance and business affairs of the eight San Diego County airports. He completed 25 years of distinguished service as a Naval Officer in the field of aviation and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Bronze Star and four distinguished Flying Crosses. City of Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox appointed Mr. Miller to the Board to serve until January 31, 2009. |
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Colonel Christopher E. O'Connor, Ex-Officio Member
Colonel Christopher E. O’Connor is the Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. He assumed command in August 2006 and supervises over 3,000 Marines, Sailors and Civilian Marines with an operating budget of over $217 million and is responsible for Air Station assets of over $2 billion. Colonel O’Connor received his commission through the NROTC Program at the University of Rochester and received his Master’s degree in Organizational Management form George Washington University. In 1985, he completed flight training and received his wings. A CH-53 helicopter pilot, he was the Commanding Officer of HMH-463. Colonel O'Connor occupies an ex-officio seat on the Board designated for a representative of the United States Navy. |
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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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Anne Sheehan, Ex-Officio Member
Anne Sheehan was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger in August 2004 as Chief Deputy Director for Policy of the California Department of Finance. She has nearly two decades of management and leadership experience on public policy issues. Ms. Sheehan has been elected to serve as the Board representative on the CalPERS Board for 2008.
From 2003 to 2004 she served as Executive Director of the California Building Industry Foundation (CBIF),and from 2000 to 2002 she served as Director of Special Projects for CBIF. In addition, Ms. Sheehan’s experience also includes six years of service with the State and Consumer Services Agency and served as Secretary (1989), Undersecretary (1993-98), and Deputy Secretary (1993). From 1991 to 1992, Ms. Sheehan was Deputy Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs. Ms. Sheehan has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Colorado. Ms. Sheehan occupies an ex-officio seat on the Board designated for the representative of the Department of Finance to the State Lands Commission. |
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Bob Watkins, 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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