Picente Appoints New Aviation Commissioner

Chad Lawrence Assumes Position Effective Immediately

County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. announced today that Michael “Chad” Lawrence has been appointed as Aviation Commissioner at the Oneida County Griffiss International Airport. Chad has been Deputy Commissioner since 2013.

“Chad has a lifetime of experience at Griffiss International Airport,” Picente said. “He has been at the forefront of its transformation from its original designation as the county airport to its recent development as the premiere UAS testing site in the country. Chad has the right skill set to continue the development we have seen at Griffiss International Airport and to keep it running as a key economic engine of this community.”

Lawrence began his career with Oneida County at the old county airport located in Oriskany as the airport maintenance supervisor in 1995. He became the superintendent of the airport, now located at Griffiss International Airport in 2006. Lawrence was appointed Deputy Commissioner in 2013.

“I have seen first-hand what Griffiss has become and I believe in County Executive Picente’s vision of where Griffiss can go from here,” Lawrence said. “This community, which has been my home for my entire life, has one of the most unique economic assets in the entire country at Griffiss and I’m honored to have this opportunity. I thank County Executive Picente for the chance to grow this test site and airport.”

Lawrence assumes the position from Russell Stark, who after four years as Aviation Commissioner, resigned late last month to take a similar position in his wife’s hometown of Stockton, California.

The function of the Griffiss International Airport is to provide a safe and well-maintained facility to serve the current and future commercial, corporate, business, governmental and general aviation needs of Oneida County and the State of New York. The goal of the Griffiss International Airport is to expand its economic impact and continue to grow as the premiere UAS testing facility in the United States.