SAN DIEGO, CA — February 12, 2024– The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority welcomes three new members to the Board of Directors — County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, Poway
Mayor Steve Vaus, and Mr. Whitney Benzian of Coronado.
“We’re very fortunate to have Supervisor Montgomery Steppe, Mayor Vaus and Board Member Benzian
join our Board,” said Airport Authority Board Chair Gil Cabrera. “They come to the Airport Authority at
an exciting and challenging time and we’re glad to have their experience and expertise as we continue
to advance the New Terminal 1 project.”
“The Authority would also like to acknowledge and thank outgoing Board Members former Chula Vista
Mayor Mary Casillas Salas and former Escondido Mayor Paul MacNamara for their service and
leadership during their tenure,” Cabrera said.
“I look forward to working with Supervisor Montgomery Steppe, Mayor Vaus, and Board Member
Benzian, in their new capacities,” said Airport Authority President & CEO Kimberly J. Becker. “With the
New T1 expected to open in late 2025, there are many things still to be accomplished.”
Supervisor Montgomery Steppe was appointed to the board on January 9 by the Chair of the County
Board of Supervisors and confirmed by the County Board of Supervisors. Board Member Benzian was
appointed to the board by the South County Mayors on January 16. Mayor Vaus was appointed to the
board by the North County Inland Mayors on January 26. Each new member will serve a three-year term
ending January 2027.
The Airport Authority is governed by a nine-member Board, with three additional members serving in an
ex officio capacity. For more information about current Airport Authority Board Members, please visit
san.org/Airport-Authority/Board-Members.
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ABOUT SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SAN)
Owned and operated by San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (Airport Authority), San Diego
International Airport (SAN) is one of the busiest single-runway commercial service airports in the world
and the third-busiest airport in California. SAN contributes nearly $12 billion in economic activity for the
region by connecting the world to San Diego and San Diego to the world. In November 2021, the Airport
Authority began construction on the New T1 which includes the replacement of the current Terminal 1,
improvements to the airfield, improved transportation connectivity to the airport, and a new
administration building. The New T1’s project budget is $3.8 billion and is estimated to create between
15,000 to 20,000 construction-related jobs. For more information about the New T1 please visit
newt1.com. For more information about SAN please visit san.org.
