Charlie joined CRAA in 2003 as the General Manager of Rickenbacker International Airport. In 2008, he was promoted to Director of Airport Operations and is currently responsible for all airside operations at CRAA’s airports, including airfield safety and certification requirements, compliance with aviation security regulations and Rickenbacker’s fixed-base operation (FBO) which provides fueling and ground handling services.

Prior to coming to Columbus, Charlie was the Airport Director for the Terre Haute International Airport Authority which hosts aircraft assigned to the Indiana Air National Guard, provides regional passenger air service and serves as the national air cargo hub for American International Freight and Roadway Global Air. In addition to almost 30 years in civilian airport management, Charlie has 20 years of military aviation experience with nearly 3,000 flight hours as a Non-Acoustic Sensor Operator (RADAR/Electronic Warfare) in the US Navy. Before his 2008 retirement from the Navy Reserves as a Chief Petty Officer, he served as an Enlisted Leadership Facilitator and Midwest Region Operations Chief with the Center for Naval Leadership, providing leadership development training to sailors.

Charlie is an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.), a Past President of the Great Lakes Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives, and currently serves as Chair of its Nominating Committee. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Technology from Indiana State University and a master’s degree in Business Operational Excellence from The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business. Charlie is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Black-belt and holds an FAA Private Pilot Certificate. Charlie and his wife of 33 years live in Lewis Center and have two grown children