BOARD OF AIRPORT COMMISSIONERS APPOINTS LYDIA KENNARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS

(Los Angeles October 3, 2005) The Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) today announced the appointment of Lydia H. Kennard as executive director of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the City department that owns and operates Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and three other airports.

Her appointment was announced at a BOAC meeting following a closed session. She will fill the vacancy created by the recent resignation of Kim Day.

In announcing the appointment effective Oct. 8, 2005, BOAC Vice President Valeria Velasco said, "Lydia Kennard is eminently qualified to take the leadership role in ensuring our four airports do their part to meet the demand for passenger and cargo air service in the 21st century, and to make a major contribution to the economic well-being of our city. I am also confident she is the right person to modernize LAX in a way we can all be proud of, and which protects and enhances the quality of life in the surrounding communities. We are indeed fortunate to have someone of Ms. Kennard’s background and history with LAWA available to assume this position."

Kennard previously served as LAWA’s executive director from March 2000 to November 2003.

"I was not expecting to return to public service when Mayor (Antonio) Villaraigosa reached out to me," said Kennard. "His compelling vision for Los Angeles and its airports combined with the boundless energy, convinced me to re-evaluate my priorities and pursuits. I look forward to joining his dynamic team and the Board of Airport Commissioners at this exciting and promising time in our City’s history."

Before previously serving in the executive director position, Kennard was LAWA’s deputy executive director for facilities design, engineering, and construction and maintenance.

The four LAWA airports have approximately 2,500 city employees and a budget of more than $800 million annually that does not require any contribution from the City’s General Fund. Besides LAX, the other airports are Ontario International (ONT), Van Nuys (VNY) and Palmdale Regional (PMD).

With a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University, a Master's degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a law degree from Harvard University, Kennard has a wide range of urban planning, design, engineering, construction, real estate and facilities expertise.

Before joining LAWA, she was president/principal-in-charge of KDG Development & Construction Consulting, a Los Angeles-based firm specializing in construction management for public and private sector clients. She was also a member of the Los Angeles Planning Commission. In her legal career, Kennard was an associate lawyer with a firm specializing in real estate and construction law.