Expansion and Success at Southern Illinois Airport Under Gary Shafer’s Leadership
CARBONDALE, Ill (September 3, 2024) – Gary R. Shafer, Airport Manager of the Southern Illinois Airport, has announced his retirement, effective March 31, 2025. Shafer has dedicated 45 years to the airport, with 43 of those years as Airport Manager. With only two airport managers in the airport’s 74-year history, Shafer is recognized as one of the longest-serving airport managers in the United States.
Under Gary’s leadership, the Southern Illinois Airport has experienced significant growth and development. Since he began his tenure in 1979, Gary has been instrumental in attracting over $120 million in facility improvements, supported by substantial federal and state grant funds.
The airport’s campus has doubled in size to 1,200 acres and tripled its number of buildings to 30. Today, 20 tenants, including the prestigious Southern Illinois University Aviation and Automotive programs, the National Guard Readiness Center, a full-service restaurant and brewery, and several aviation industry service providers, including a major airline aircraft maintenance firm, call the airport home.
A key milestone during Gary’s tenure was the addition of a third runway, further enhancing the airport’s capacity and operational efficiency. As a result of these efforts, Southern Illinois Airport (KMDH) now ranks as the fourth busiest airport in the State of Illinois.
Gary, a licensed pilot, pursued his education at Florida Tech, The Ohio State University, and Southern Illinois University. He has an extensive background in aviation education, having taught both undergraduate and graduate-level aviation courses at Southern Illinois University for over 25 years. His teaching career spanned both the Carbondale campus and various off-campus locations across the country until his retirement from teaching in 2023.
Throughout his career, Gary was actively involved in professional organizations, including the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), the Transportation Research Board’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (TRB/ACRP) and the National Air Transportation Association. He also contributed his time to numerous local and state non-profit organizations.
About Southern Illinois Airport Authority
Beginning under the management of C. Gene Seibert, Southern Illinois Airport Authority is an autonomous 78-year-old organization that owns and operates the Southern Illinois Airport. Located three miles north of Carbondale, Illinois, home of Southern Illinois University, the airport is host to the prestigious SIU aviation and automotive degree
programs.
Recognized as a leader in innovation, Southern Illinois Airport is an award-winning, forward-thinking facility that caters to airline, corporate, and general aviation users and tenants. As the fourth busiest airport in Illinois, it operates as an FAA Class IV Part 139 Airport.
The airport’s expansive campus covers over 1,200 acres and features 30 buildings, housing a diverse array of aeronautical and non-aeronautical tenants. These include a major university aviation program, a vintage jet aircraft rehabilitation firm, and an airline maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility. Southern Illinois Airport has seen significant growth in the past decade, with numerous airport and tenant projects currently in the planning and development stages.
