Albany, NY (September 16, 2003 ) - - - Rev. Michael A. Farano, chairman of the Albany County Airport Authority has announced the appointment of John O'Donnell as Chief Executive Officer of the Albany International Airport. The appointment was approved by a unanimous vote of the Authority Board during its monthly meeting on September 15. Mr. O'Donnell had been acting CEO since April 1 following the retirement of John Egan.

"John O'Donnell has pointed the direction, established the goals and exhibited the leadership qualities that we believe will guide our staff and this Board to ensure the future of this Airport and the future of flight in the greater Capital Region and Upstate New York," said Rev. Farano.

John O'Donnell was appointed Director of Project Development for the Albany International Airport in 1996. As a licensed engineer, his immediate task was to manage the Airport's five-year Terminal Improvement Project that included the construction of a new terminal, parking garage, cargo facility and air traffic control tower.

In 1999 Mr. O'Donnell was appointed Chief Operating Officer for the Albany International Airport with the responsibility of all daily operations of the Airport as well as new construction initiatives, terminal and airfield development.

Mr. O'Donnell's building accomplishments also include the construction of a the New York State Police Hangar, a new Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting headquarters and apron expansion and concourse renovations for CommutAir. He is currently overseeing the extension of the Airport's two runways.

"I am most grateful to our Board's confidence and support and I look forward to the challenge of meeting the requirements of tomorrow's business and leisure traveler while advancing Albany International Airport as an economic engine for the Capital Region," said Mr. O'Donnell.

Mr. O'Donnell said one of his goals will be to offer over 100 acres of shovel-ready Airport land to aviation-related and other businesses to encourage them to move to the region or expand their current operations. Mr. O'Donnell said he will also encourage the construction of Exit 3 of the Adirondack Northway to provide an Interstate connection for Airport travelers.

John O'Donnell began his professional engineering career as an assistant to the Chief Engineer in the Precast Division of Challanan Industries in Ravena, N.Y. During his three years with Callanan, Mr. O'Donnell participated in a multitude of major construction projects including the White Plains Municipal Parking Garage, a variety of medium rise senior citizen housing units, hotels and bridges throughout the Northeast.

In 1979, Mr. O'Donnell moved to the New York State Office of General Services. During his 17-year government career Mr. O'Donnell held several positions and served as Project Manager on a number of key state construction projects including the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, State University at Stony Brook Veteran's Home and a 250-bed Intermediate Care Facility in Utica. In 1994 he was appointed Director of Design Consultant Services for OGS.

Mr. O'Donnell is a Professional Engineer licensed by the State of New York. He is a graduate of Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y., and Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. Mr. O'Donnell resides in Guilderland with his wife Deborah and their two sons.

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