LAWA HIRES NEW DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO OVERSEE AIRPORT OPERATIONS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

            (Los Angeles, California – December 6, 2016)  Keith Wilschetz has been appointed Deputy Executive Director of Operations and Emergency Management for Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). Wilschetz’s appointment was announced today by LAWA Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint.  Wilschetz will be responsible for planning, directing and coordinating activities related to all landside, terminal, and airside operations, as well as emergency management, at Los Angeles International  (LAX) and Van Nuys (general aviation) airports.  His appointment will be effective January 23, 2017.

            Wilschetz brings 30 years experience in airport planning, operations and leadership.  Most recently, he served as Director for Airport Planning & Noise Mitigation for the San Diego Regional Airport Authority.  He was responsible for directing all airport planning and noise management activities, including managing airport capital projects and coordinating with community organizations and stakeholder agencies.  He also led land-use planning for all 16 airports in San Diego County, including four military bases.  Previously, Wilschetz so served as Vice President of Planning at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport where he directed strategic, technical, and administrative planning. 

Prior to working in the public sector, Wilschetz served as a director with Landrum & Brown, Inc., where he worked as Technical Co-Manager on the LAX Master Plan and its related environmental impact studies; led traffic planning/engineering work for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans); and conducted strategic planning at Chicago O’Hare, Ontario International, Anchorage International, Beijing Capital International (China), and Puebla (Mexico) airports.

He also worked as a senior consultant with Metro Transportation Group Inc., Chicago, where he performed over 100 traffic engineering studies throughout the United States.

            “Keith’s expansive planning, engineering and management experience will contribute to LAWA’s mission of delivering gold-standard airports,” said Flint.  “His knowledge of airport master planning,

environmental planning, and construction management is an incredible addition to the LAWA team as it continues to execute our $14-billion capital-improvement plan, including the $5.5-billion Landside Access Modernization Program.”

            Wilschetz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Missouri in Rolla, and a Master of Science degree in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego.   He is a member of American Association of Airport Executives, and is Chairman of the Planning & Development Working Group of Airports Council International.  Wilschetz is also a licensed private pilot.

About Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)

           Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is the City of Los Angeles department that owns and operates Los Angeles International (LAX) and Van Nuys (VNY) general aviation airports, as well as aviation-related property in Palmdale. Both play an integral role in helping to meet the Southern California regional demand for passenger, cargo and general aviation service. Both airports make a distinct contribution to the strength of the system as it provides a high level of safety, security and service for its customers, communities and stakeholders. 

             More than 60,000 Southern Californians work at LAWA’s facilities, including more than 3,500 for the City of Los Angeles.  As a proprietary agency, LAWA receives no monies from the City of Los Angeles general fund.