Jacksonville Aviation Authority CEO Steve Grossman notified the authority's board of directors Wednesday that he is retiring Jan. 1.
In a letter to board Chair Giselle Carson, Grossman described his time at JAA as “the highlight of my professional career” and said he and his wife, Linda, look forward to “the next phase of our lives here in Jacksonville.”
Grossman became CEO at JAA in September 2009 and had more than three years, until September 2021, remaining on his contract.
Patrick Kilbane, the board's immediate past chair, will head the search committee to identify Grossman's successor.
Kilbane said Grossman reached retirement age. “He's one of the best leaders I've ever been around.”
Kilbane added the authority is in “a tremendous financial position” and represents a $3.1 billion economic engine for Jacksonville.
“Whoever comes in isn't coming in to a turnaround job,” Kilbane said.
The committee's first step will be to issue a request for proposals for an executive search firm.
“We're looking for an all-star,” Kilbane said.
While Jacksonville International Airport accounts for about two-thirds of JAA's revenue, the next CEO must be able to understand the value of Cecil Airport/Spaceport in West Jacksonville and its role in the future of the authority, he said.
A commercially licensed horizontal spaceport, a test launch of a nanosatellite is planned later this year, Kilbane said.
“Whoever comes in will have to impress us with what's going on at Cecil,” he said.
The authority's assets include JIA, Cecil Airport/Spaceport, Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport and Herlong Recreational Airport.