Gainesville Regional Airport CEO Allan Penksa announced that he will retire next year, prompting the airport board to start a search for a replacement.  

Penksa told the Gainesville Alachua County Regional Airport Authority (GACRAA) at its Nov. 20 meeting, and the board started a CEO Search subcommittee that will lead the search. The subcommittee will present a report at Thursday’s regular board meeting concerning its recruitment strategy with consultant, ADK Consultants, Inc. 

Penksa started as CEO of the Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) in 2007, coming up from the position of deputy director and chief operating officer.  

Erin Porter, spokesperson for the airport, said Penksa’s last day will be March 10. She said he manages a staff of 40 employees that run the airport facilities and coordinates with airlines, the Transportation Safety Administration and the Federal Aviation Authority. Porter said Penksa is the only airport leader the majority of staff have worked under. 

Porter said Penksa considered remaining as CEO for longer, but major multi-year infrastructure projects are on the near horizon, and she said Penksa thought it would be best for the projects to start and continue under the same leadership instead of switching halfway through.  

Under Penksa, GNV expanded with a new terminal and gates. The airport also broke its passenger traffic record in 2019 and again in 2024. Earlier this year, the airport also cut the ribbon on a four-level parking garage. 

The nine-member GACRAA will decide on the next CEO. The Gainesville City Commission appoints six of the members, Alachua County selects another two members and Florida’s governor adds the final member.  

On the CEO search subcommittee are board members Kinnon Thomas, Fred Posner, Brandi Renton and Staci Sims. The public may attend Thursday’s regular meeting at 4 p.m. at the airport (Airline Passenger Terminal – Board Room, 3880 NE 39th Ave., Gainesville).