Craig Campbell Appointed Interim Director of Ted Stevens International Airport

After years of overseeing rocket launches from Kodiak Island, airplanes are no problem for Craig Campbell. The former lieutenant governor is stepping in as Interim Manager of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), replacing Jim Szczesniak, who departed the job in February.

“I am pleased to have Craig step into this role,” says John Binder, Deputy Commissioner for Aviation for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, which owns and operates the state’s largest airport. Binder continues, “Mr. Campbell has extensive aviation and aerospace management experience and will provide ANC a steady hand until a permanent Airport Manager can be selected.”

Campbell comes with extensive aviation and aerospace experience, with more than thirty-five years in the US Air Force and Alaska Air National Guard. He led the National Guard as Adjutant General from 2003 to 2009, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy as lieutenant governor. Campbell previously chaired the Anchorage Assembly, representing Chugiak-Eagle River.

He served as CEO of the state-run Alaska Aerospace Corporation from 2012 to 2018, presiding over the spinoff of Aurora Launch Services. He briefly returned in late 2021 after resigning as policy and programs director for Mayor Dave Bronson. Additionally, Campbell has more than fifteen years of aviation consulting experience on various projects throughout Alaska.