AOPA Southwest Regional Representative Shelly deZevallos (center), with newly appointed New Mexico State Aviation Director David Ploeger (left) and Tom Baca (right), the current aviation director.
Los Alamos County Airport manager and pilot David Ploeger has been named the New Mexico State Aviation Director effective Sept. 21.
The current aviation director, Tom Baca, announced his successor at the New Mexico Aviation Division 2009 Annual Conference, held Sept. 9 and 10 in Santa Fe, N.M. Baca, also a pilot, has served as state aviation director since 2004, and he recently announced his retirement.
“AOPA has worked with Tom on several aviation issues, and he is passionate about general aviation and the state of New Mexico,” said AOPA Southwest Regional Representative Shelly deZevallos, who attended the conference. “We will miss working with him, but at the same time look forward to working with David. We’ve known David in his capacity as the airport manager in Los Alamos and know he will bring his own experiences and passions to the position as well.”
As Los Alamos Airport manager for the past four years, Ploeger has overseen improvements such as the land transfer of the airport to Los Alamos in 2008, according to a county press release. He has also been president of the New Mexico Aviation Managers Association and owns a Mooney. Both Baca and Ploeger are AOPA members.