Leadership

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.

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.

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.

Robert H. Gleason
Email - 619.400.2408

Robert Gleason is chief financial officer and general counsel for Evans Hotels, which owns and operates The Lodge at Torrey Pines, the Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa and the Bahia Resort Hotel, where he has been employed for over 20 years. In addition, he serves as adjunct faculty member in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at San Diego State University.

Gleason is a long-time San Diegan, who has played a leadership role with many community agencies and organizations, primarily in the areas of the arts, electoral politics, and civil rights. He is a commissioner for the City of San Diego’s Commission for Arts and Culture and a director of the Old Globe Theater. He also serves as director of the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Community Center and as chair of the San Diego LGBT Community Leadership Council. 

He received an A.B. in Economics from Princeton University and a Juris Doctor (summa cum laude) from the University of San Diego School of Law. City of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders appointed Mr. Gleason to the Board for a term ending on January 31, 2011.

Jim Panknin
Email - 619.400.2408

James “Jim” Panknin has worked in aviation- related activities for over twenty five 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 flew commercial charter aircraft based at Lindbergh Field from 2004 to 2008 as the Chief Pilot at Jimsair. Jim is the President of San Diego Executive Flight, a local Aircraft Management and Charter Company.

Mr. Panknin is active in his community, serving as a Director on the Santee School District Foundation and Chairman of the Grossmont Union High School District’s Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee. The mayors of East San Diego County appointed Mr. Panknin to the Board for a four-year term.

Bob Pieplow, Ex-Officio Member

Bob Pieplow is the new Interim District Director for District 11 Caltrans, the state agency responsible for highway, bridge and, rail transportation.  Bob comes here from Caltrans Headquarters in Sacramento where he serves as Chief for the Division of Engineering Services (DES).   DES has about 1,900 employees and houses a variety of engineering services, including Geotechnical Investigations, Structures Design, Earthquake Engineering, Materials Engineering and Testing, Construction Management and advertises and awards more than $2 billion in construction contracts each year.  

Bob has been with Caltrans for more than 26 years and prior to his DES assignment he served as Chief of the Division of Construction, overseeing nearly 600 active construction projects valued at over $10.5 billion. During his tenure in Construction, he led the development and implementation of several innovative construction contract provisions including A+B bidding, flexible beginning of work, time-related overhead bid item, and alternative dispute resolution processes. He is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and is a licensed professional engineer in California.  Mr. Pieplow occupies an ex-officio seat on the Board designated for a representative of District 11 Director of Caltrans.

Colonel Frank A. Richie, Ex-Officio Member

Colonel Richie is currently serving as the Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. He served operational tours at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. During his operational tours he participated in Operation Desert Storm, contingency operations over the former Bosnia Herzegovina, Operation Iraqi Freedom and numerous deployments to the Pacific region.

His command assignments include: Company Commander, Officer Candidates School; Company Commander, The Basic School; and Commanding Officer,Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121. He recently served in the Office of Secretary of Defense, Program Analysis and Evaluation, tactical Aviation Division. Colonel Richie has accumulated over 2700 hours in the F/A-18. Colonel Richie occupies an ex-officio seat on the Board designated for a representative of the United States Navy.

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.

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.

Bob Watkins, Chairman, 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.

Anthony Young, Executive Committee Member
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.

Vacant – Governor appointment