Burbank Airport Executive Resigns After 15 Years

Burbank Airport Executive Director Thomas E. Greer--a driving force behind a two-decade effort to build a new airline terminal--announced his resignation Friday after 15 years on the job.

Greer steps down just as the terminal project gained new momentum this week. Sources say that Greer came under pressure to leave because of his resistance to accepting restrictions on flights.

Airport Controller Dios Marrero has been appointed interim executive director.

In an interview, Greer declined to discuss the reasons for his departure, but said the time for new leadership had arrived.

“I feel like a cowboy that’s been riding on a bucking bronco where one of two things can happen,” Greer said. “Either it stops bucking and you break the horse, or you get thrown off. The lucky cowboys realize that the horse is not going to stop bucking and they get to choose when they get off.”

Greer said his biggest regret is not seeing the terminal through to completion.

Ironically, the airport authority submitted a compromise plan to Burbank on Monday calling for reducing the proposed terminal from 19 gates to 16 gates.

On Tuesday, the Glendale City Council broke with policy and issued a statement saying it would support a mandatory overnight curfew on flights. Some observers said a more moderate administrator is now needed to conclude negotiations between Burbank and the airport authority.

Greer said he does believe the federal government needs to oversee commercial air transportation, but insisted that he was sensitive to local concerns about noise.

“I believe there is need for oversight in a national transportation system,” he said. “But to suggest that an airport manager is not concerned about the impact on the local community is wrong.”