Rosemarie Andolino To Leave Post In October

Chicago's Airport Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino will be stepping down from that post in October, according to information from the office of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

According to a report appearing in The Chicago Tribune, Andolino took over as aviation commissioner in 2009, earning $187,000 per year in the post.

Prior to taking the top job, she had overseen an 11-year, multi-billion dollar expansion project at O'Hare International Airport that added two runways at the facility, despite having had no experience in the aviation field before being named to lead the project. The paper reports that even with the expansion, O'Hare is struggling with getting planes in and out on time.

Her departure comes as the Emanuel administration continues to deal with complaints about jet noise from residents living near the airport since its expansion was completed. And the relationship between Andolino and some major airlines has not always been smooth. American and United had filed a lawsuit against Chicago several years ago to block plans for a western terminal. That suit was dropped, but there are still no plans for the new facility.

The head of an anti-noise group recently called on Andolino to resign or be terminated because of "failed leadership" on her part.

Andolino said simply that it was "the right time" for her to step down from the post. She said she has stayed on for the past 3 1/2 years at the request of Mayor Emanuel, and has been in discussions with several potential private sector employers "for a while now."

In a statement Friday, Emanuel said that Andolino had "accomplished a great deal for Chicago's airports."

(Image from file)

FMI: www.cityofchicago.org/aviation