Thomas A. Sheridan has been appointed chairman of the Connecticut Airport Authority’s board of directors, the governor announced Monday.
Sheridan, the CEO and president of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, will succeed Charles R. Gray, whose term ended June 30, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said.
The Waterford resident has led the Eastern Connecticut chamber since 2002, working to represent the local business community and improve the region’s economic standing.
Sheridan, 72, previously worked as a human resources director at New London’s Connecticut College, and as a consultant for Northeast Utilities, now Eversource Energy. He was also a community relations manager at the Millstone nuclear power plant.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College and a master’s degree from the University of New Haven.
Malloy said Sheridan is a “natural fit” to lead the board that oversees the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA), a group established in 2011 to attract more new airlines to Bradley International Airport, given his experience working with the business community.
The CAA was also created to develop, improve and operate the state’s five general aviation airports in Danielson, Groton-New London, Hartford-Brainard, Waterbury-Oxford and Windham.
Monday’s appointment comes after Bradley officials unveiled a $1.4 billion master plan earlier this year that would allow the airport to serve millions of additional passengers.
It represents CAA’s first master plan since it took over Bradley operations from the state Department of Transportation in 2013.
