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Paul Gerald Werts
Executive Director
Paul Gerald Werts was unanimously nominated by the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission
on July 29, 2008 as Executive Director of the SC Division of Aeronautics and was appointed
to the position on August 13, 2008 by Governor Mark Sanford. As Executive Director, Mr. Werts
is responsible for the supervision and control of the state’s 60 airports and for the promotion
of aviation safety and air commerce across the Palmetto State. He has been employed with the
South Carolina Department of Commerce-Division of Aeronautic since 1979.
Prior to his selection as Executive Director, Mr. Werts was Program Manager I of the
Airport Development Section. His duties as Program Manager were to manage and supervise
the Airport Development Section for the SC Division of Aeronautics. Mr. Werts’ duties included
assisting the Executive Director on state and federal airport development programs. Create state
aviation program methodologies to enhance airport safety and program efficiency and implementation
of the statewide aviation system plan priorities and the program objectives. Direct the Airport
Development Section on appropriate federal, state, and local airport development procedures,
regulations, and codes pertaining to airport and aviation development. Manage a staff of six
subordinates to accomplish airport planning development, and engineering objectives. Other duties
included the continuing enhancement of the web interface programs and administering state grants,
budgets, and financial reports.
Mr. Werts holds a professional Airport Compliance Certificate and License #06046 Airport
Compliance Requirement both issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy.
He holds an Airport Pavement-Asphalt Institute Certificate issued by the University of
Kentucky and a Cement Stabilization for Pavements Certificate issued by Clemson University.
Mr. Werts has GPS & GIS Surveying Certificates issued by Trimble. Mr. Werts graduated from
Midlands Technical College with an Associate’s Degree in Civil Engineering Technology.
Mr. Werts lives in Prosperity, South Carolina, and is married to the former Debbie Keasler.
They have two sons, Stephen 17 and Rion 16.
Walter I. Johnson
Director of Flight Operations
Walter I. Johnson was employed as a
pilot with the S.C. Division of Aeronautics in 1978 and promoted to
Director of Flight Operations in 1990. He manages and supervises the
division’s flight department which provides air transportation for
state government and its business prospects, and the aircraft
maintenance and ground support department which provides aircraft
maintenance, fuel, hangars and passenger facilities for state
aircraft operations. Mr. Johnson also served as the Division of
Aeronautics Interim Director from February 2004 until November 2005.
Mr. Johnson has been a professional pilot for 42 years and logged
more than 13,500 hours. He holds an ATP rating in airplane single
and multi engine, commercial and instrument rating in helicopter,
type rating in Lear Jet and King Air BE-300, CFI in airplane and
helicopter, CFII in airplane, and an ATC Control Tower Operator
license. He completed the Army Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviator
Course, the Army UH-1 Helicopter Instructor Pilot Course, the Army
Officer Air Traffic Control Course, the Army Aviation Safety Officer
Course and the Army Command and General Staff Officer Course.
Mr. Johnson began his aviation career at age fifteen after taking a
part-time job as line-boy at the Sumter Municipal Airport. He soloed
at age sixteen. He obtained a commercial license and flight
instructor rating at age eighteen and was hired as the full-time
flight instructor and charter pilot for Sumter Airways, Inc. He
worked for Sumter Airways until joining the Army in 1966 to attend
Warrant Officer helicopter flight training.
Mr. Johnson served in the Army and Army Reserves until 1996 when he
retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. During his military career, he
served nine years on active duty including two tours in Vietnam and
21 years in the Army Reserves. He became a commissioned officer
after his first tour in Vietnam when he accepted a direct commission
in Air Defense Artillery. Mr. Johnson performed a variety of
aviation related jobs including assault helicopter pilot with the
1st Cavalry Division, battalion adjutant and company executive
officer in an Air Traffic Control Battalion, UH-1 helicopter
instructor pilot at the U.S. Army Aviation School, battery commander
in a Nike Hercules Missile Battalion, aviation platoon commander in
an Army Security Agency company, and aviation safety officer and
operations officer in a major Army Reserve Command. His military
service awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze
Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal,
the Air Medal with 41 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Army Commendation
Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
In addition to 28 years with the Division of Aeronautics, Mr.
Johnson’s general aviation experience includes flying as a primary
and advanced flight instructor, charter pilot, corporate pilot, and
three years as part-owner of Sumter Airways, Inc., where he served
as the FBO’s Vice President and General Manager and as Chief Pilot
for the FAA approved FAR 141 flight school.
Mr. Johnson and his wife Janet reside in Lexington, S.C. He has a
married daughter, Karen and son, Brian. Both children reside in the
Columbia area.
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