Georgetown, Del., March 27, 2007: Sussex County Administrator David B. Baker announced today that Sussex County will have a full-time director of its budding airport and industrial airpark, to oversee operations and work more closely with businesses that call the complex home.

Mr. Baker has appointed Jim Hickin, currently a project manager in the County’s Engineering Department, as director of airport and industrial park operations, effective April 2.

Mr. Hickin, who has an aviation background as a former aeronautical engineer, as well as a military and commercial pilot, will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the airport and industrial park complex. He will manage leases, lead construction projects and oversee maintenance of infrastructure, among other duties.

“I’m excited about this new opportunity and thank Mr. Baker and the County Council for their confidence in me,” Mr. Hickin said. “The airport is developing quickly and this is a good time to reorganize its management structure to reflect that development. The new structure takes advantage of the resources of the Engineering Department, while allowing the airport manager to focus more on the airport.”

The Sussex County Airport and Industrial Airpark near Georgetown is home to 17 businesses that employ more than 1,200 people. Businesses at the complex include an aircraft auxiliary fuel tank installer and a poultry processing company.

Mr. Hickin’s appointment was brought on, in part, by personnel changes within the Economic Development Office, which has managed the airport for the last 10 years. Director Stephen Masten and Development Planner Diana Pettyjohn have both announced they will retire at the end of the month.

Mr. Baker said the time also is right to refocus attention at the airport, which has seen added hangar sites in recent years and will undergo a runway extension in the future. Sussex County had a full-time airport manager until 1996, but the duties were shifted to the Economic Development director upon the last manager’s retirement.

“Jim’s background makes him the right person for the job. This will allow Jim to be more involved in coordinating projects, working as a liaison between the County and the businesses within the Industrial Airpark,” Mr. Baker said. “It also will allow the new Economic Development director, when appointed, to focus on economic development without having to juggle airport duties.”