"Airport Director To Take Fort Worth Job"

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Airport Director To Take Fort Worth Job
By Ben Boulden
The Northwest Arkansas Morning News


FORT SMITH -- Kent Penney, Fort Smith Regional Airport director, helped to
keep operations at a military base located here from moving, but now he's
moving away himself.

He said he has accepted an offer to serve as airport systems director for
the city of Fort Worth, Texas. In that capacity, Penney said he will have
responsibility for three airports that serve corporate and general aviation
tenants and businesses as well as air cargo transport operations.

"It's just a terrific opportunity that came up for me and the family,"
Penney said.

His last day as Fort Smith airport director will be Dec. 7.

"He was instrumental in the BRAC process in saving the 188th Fighter Wing's
flying mission," said Ray Gosack, deputy administrator for the city of Fort
Smith. "He worked very closely with that effort to provide information on
airport operations" and their economic development impact.

The 188th Tactical Fighter Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard at Ebbing
Air Base in Fort Smith was threatened in 2005 by the federal base closure
and realignment process. The process resulted in the replacement of the
wing's F-16 fighter jets with A-10 Warthog ground support jets.

 Since he was hired by the Fort Smith Regional Airport Commission in 2004,
Penney has been responsible with the commission for:

   * Developing a new, long-range master plan for the facility.

   * Starting construction on new hangars for general aviation aircraft.

   * Expanding the parking at the airport.

   * Adding passenger service between Atlanta and Fort Smith from Atlantic
Southeast Airlines/Delta Air Lines.

   * Gaining two land-lease tenants on airport property.

   * Building a third, passenger boarding bridge for use at the airport.

"He looked at much more than just airport operations," Gosack said. "He
looked at how the airport's assets could be used to benefit the community in
other ways. The dog park is one example of that. He had a much broader
community perspective."

For the dog park, Penney proposed using about 40 acres of land on the
airport's east side that serves a buffer for its operations.

Gosack said that was Penney's idea.

"The city staff had a great working relationship with Kent," he said. "He
kept us aware of infrastructure projects that the airport was working on. We
did the same with our projects that affected the airport."

Jerry Stewart, an airport commissioner, said the commission will discuss at
its regular meeting Tuesday how to go about searching for a replacement for
Penney.

In his time as airport director, he said Penney has moved the airport
forward on important projects that will enhance its future opportunities.

"It sounds like a good opportunity for him," Stewart said. "I think he's
done a good job for us. He's a young man who is doing what he thinks is best
for his career. I would encourage my son to do the same thing (in the same
situation)."

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