Robert Ratkowski has been appointed airport director of Glacier Park International Airport, effective Jan. 1.

He began work at the airport as manager of operations and maintenance in 2004 and was appointed deputy director in 2007. Ratkowski has served as interim director since Cindi Martin retired Aug. 31.

“This is the perfect time for Mr. Ratkowski to become the next airport director,” Airport Authority Chairman Dennis Beams said in a prepared statement.

“The executive succession plan has been years in the making and Mr. Ratkowski has emerged as a strong leader. Glacier Park International Airport is in a very strong position and [his] experience and vision will keep GPIA on course for the future.”

Ratkowski, 42, has a degree in aviation management from Metropolitan State College of Denver and worked for a year as flight coordinator for Mayo Aviation before joining the staff of Centennial Airport in the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area in 1998. He worked at Centennial until April 2004, holding positions that included aviation management intern, operations specialist, airport planner and manager of planning and development.

He has served on the board of directors of the Montana Airport Management Association for eight years and is wrapping up a two-year term as president. He is also a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives.

“I look forward to working with the Flathead Municipal Airport Authority board and all of our stakeholders to continue the culture of safety, efficiency and fiscal responsibility that we have developed at GPIA,” Ratkowski said. “I hope to serve the airport and community for as long as I can. My family is here and I am invested in the community. This is a long-term situation for me.”

During Martin’s 10 years as director of Glacier Park International she oversaw a nine-year, $32 million capital improvement project at the airport.

Upgrades have included the reconstruction of the full length of the taxiway, rehabilitation of the crosswind runway, expansion and a redesign of the airport entrance road system and installation of a traffic light on U.S. 2. A terminal remodel was a big piece of the upgrade, too. It included a security checkpoint expansion, revamped restaurant and gift shop space and revolving exit doors between the secure area and airport lobby.

The airport parking lot was expanded, and most recently the rental care area was expanded and improved to make it easier for customers to pick up and return rental vehicles.

Ratkowski said the airport authority board will be updating the airport’s master plan in the coming year and will look at future facilities requirements for the airport terminal, with a goal of modifying the terminal in 2021.

The next infrastructure improvement project is a rehabilitation of the general aviation ramp, planned in 2017.

The airport has continued to see its annual passenger count increase. In 2015, a total of 470,238 revenue passengers traveled through the airport.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.