Today the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority announced Jeff Van Slyke as the general manager of the new Fort Wayne Aero Center at Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA). Fort Wayne Aero Center will begin providing fixed base operations (FBO) services at the airport beginning January 1, 2016. Mr. Van Slyke assumed his new role today.

As the general manager, Mr. Van Slyke will lead a staff of approximately 20 to provide aircraft fueling, tie-down and parking, hangar rental, and other aeronautical services to FWA’s commercial carriers and general aviation users.

“We look forward to having Jeff on board as we enter a new chapter of aviation services at FWA,” said Scott Hinderman, Executive Director of Airports for the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority. “We have no doubt his skills and experience will mold Fort Wayne Aero Center into a friendly and efficient FBO the region’s users will be proud of.”

With 28 years of aviation experience, Mr. Van Slyke has worked in nearly all capacities of aviation services. He comes to Fort Wayne from Dallas Love Field Airport, where he most recently worked as the training/HSE supervisor for Air Service International Group (ASIG). ASIG is the primary into-plane fueling agent for Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) and Virgin America Airlines (NASDAQ: VA), providing service for 185 daily commercial flights.

“I’m really excited to get started. I love being involved in a new line of business and watching things grow, starting a first-class operation in Fort Wayne from the ground up,” said Van Slyke. “The region has a lot to look forward to at Fort Wayne Aero Center.”

Mr. Van Slyke has also worked at several FBOs in southern California, including Landmark Aviation at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where he handled up to 95% of the corporate traffic into LAX. Prior to California, Mr. Van Slyke worked in Tel-Aviv, Israel for Mercury Air Group and spent 16 years in Reno, Nev. at Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO). During his time in Reno, he was exposed to commercial, private, and charter aviation, and was the Department of Defense contractor for transient government aircraft at RNO.

“I’ve never felt more welcome in Fort Wayne and in my career. I can’t wait to be a part of this community,” Van Slyke added.