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Michael J. O’Donnell, A.A.E.
Executive Director
Michael J. O’Donnell was appointed
as the Executive Director of the South Carolina Division of
Aeronautics by Governor Mark Sanford November 2005. As director Mr.
O’Donnell 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 is the first gubernatorial
appointee to hold this important position.
Mr. O’Donnell is an accredited airport executive with twelve years
of airport management experience at several general aviation and
commercial service airports in the Northeast, including seven years
as airport manager of the Waterbury-Oxford Airport in Connecticut.
His background includes Bachelor and Master’s degrees from
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and six years of active-duty
service in the U.S. Air Force.
Mr. O’Donnell is an experienced aircraft accident investigator and
ARFF fire fighter. Mr. O’Donnell holds a private pilot certificate
and is a certified weather observer. He is also an experienced
college professor who has taught courses in airport management,
aviation history and commercial aviation safety.
Mr. O’Donnell, his wife Ella, and their two children, Justin
(fifteen) and Brianna (twelve), currently reside in Lexington South
Carolina.
Walter I. Johnson
Director of Flight Operations
Walter I. Johnson was employed as a
pilot with the S.C. Division of Aeronautics in 1978 and promoted to
Director of Flight Operations in 1990. He manages and supervises the
division’s flight department which provides air transportation for
state government and its business prospects, and the aircraft
maintenance and ground support department which provides aircraft
maintenance, fuel, hangars and passenger facilities for state
aircraft operations. Mr. Johnson also served as the Division of
Aeronautics Interim Director from February 2004 until November 2005.
Mr. Johnson has been a professional pilot for 42 years and logged
more than 13,500 hours. He holds an ATP rating in airplane single
and multi engine, commercial and instrument rating in helicopter,
type rating in Lear Jet and King Air BE-300, CFI in airplane and
helicopter, CFII in airplane, and an ATC Control Tower Operator
license. He completed the Army Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviator
Course, the Army UH-1 Helicopter Instructor Pilot Course, the Army
Officer Air Traffic Control Course, the Army Aviation Safety Officer
Course and the Army Command and General Staff Officer Course.
Mr. Johnson began his aviation career at age fifteen after taking a
part-time job as line-boy at the Sumter Municipal Airport. He soloed
at age sixteen. He obtained a commercial license and flight
instructor rating at age eighteen and was hired as the full-time
flight instructor and charter pilot for Sumter Airways, Inc. He
worked for Sumter Airways until joining the Army in 1966 to attend
Warrant Officer helicopter flight training.
Mr. Johnson served in the Army and Army Reserves until 1996 when he
retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. During his military career, he
served nine years on active duty including two tours in Vietnam and
21 years in the Army Reserves. He became a commissioned officer
after his first tour in Vietnam when he accepted a direct commission
in Air Defense Artillery. Mr. Johnson performed a variety of
aviation related jobs including assault helicopter pilot with the
1st Cavalry Division, battalion adjutant and company executive
officer in an Air Traffic Control Battalion, UH-1 helicopter
instructor pilot at the U.S. Army Aviation School, battery commander
in a Nike Hercules Missile Battalion, aviation platoon commander in
an Army Security Agency company, and aviation safety officer and
operations officer in a major Army Reserve Command. His military
service awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze
Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal,
the Air Medal with 41 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Army Commendation
Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
In addition to 28 years with the Division of Aeronautics, Mr.
Johnson’s general aviation experience includes flying as a primary
and advanced flight instructor, charter pilot, corporate pilot, and
three years as part-owner of Sumter Airways, Inc., where he served
as the FBO’s Vice President and General Manager and as Chief Pilot
for the FAA approved FAR 141 flight school.
Mr. Johnson and his wife Janet reside in Lexington, S.C. He has a
married daughter, Karen and son, Brian. Both children reside in the
Columbia area.
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