Paul Gerald Werts
  Executive Director

Paul Gerald Werts was unanimously nominated by the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission on July 29, 2008 as Executive Director of the SC Division of Aeronautics and was appointed to the position on August 13, 2008 by Governor Mark Sanford. As Executive Director, Mr. Werts is responsible for the supervision and control of the state’s 60 airports and for the promotion of aviation safety and air commerce across the Palmetto State. He has been employed with the South Carolina Department of Commerce-Division of Aeronautic since 1979.

Prior to his selection as Executive Director, Mr. Werts was Program Manager I of the Airport Development Section. His duties as Program Manager were to manage and supervise the Airport Development Section for the SC Division of Aeronautics. Mr. Werts’ duties included assisting the Executive Director on state and federal airport development programs. Create state aviation program methodologies to enhance airport safety and program efficiency and implementation of the statewide aviation system plan priorities and the program objectives. Direct the Airport Development Section on appropriate federal, state, and local airport development procedures, regulations, and codes pertaining to airport and aviation development. Manage a staff of six subordinates to accomplish airport planning development, and engineering objectives. Other duties included the continuing enhancement of the web interface programs and administering state grants, budgets, and financial reports.

Mr. Werts holds a professional Airport Compliance Certificate and License #06046 Airport Compliance Requirement both issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy. He holds an Airport Pavement-Asphalt Institute Certificate issued by the University of Kentucky and a Cement Stabilization for Pavements Certificate issued by Clemson University. Mr. Werts has GPS & GIS Surveying Certificates issued by Trimble. Mr. Werts graduated from Midlands Technical College with an Associate’s Degree in Civil Engineering Technology.

Mr. Werts lives in Prosperity, South Carolina, and is married to the former Debbie Keasler. They have two sons, Stephen 17 and Rion 16.