After being involved in airport operations for much of his adult life, former CEA Board of Directors member Jim Kiefer is now hoping to fulfill a lifelong dream: learning to fly.

Kiefer, a long-time resident of Prospect Heights, recently retired from a successful career as a union electrician. He worked as a foreman on large projects that included high rises, data centers, historical renovations, and the building of a new United cargo facility at O’Hare.

Early in his career, Kiefer joined the U.S. Army Reserves in 1981 where he later underwent aviation operations training and in 1990 was called to participate in the Gulf War, eventually Operation Desert Storm, where he was put in charge of airport operations in a northern Saudi Arabia air base. During his eight months there, more than 300,000 troops came through the airport on commercial aircraft that were part of the Desert Storm initiative. He achieved a Sergeant First Class ranking.

In 2016 Kiefer was asked by then Prospect Heights Mayor Nicholas Helmer to join the Chicago Executive Airport Board of Directors, which he gladly accepted. As a civic-minded volunteer, Kiefer was excited to be involved in aviation again.

Looking back on his ten years with the CEA board, Kiefer recalls several highlights.

He considers his greatest accomplishment helping the CEA board implement the Resident Sound Improvement Plan (RSIP) which was created in response to community input. He was pleased to see that neighbors accepted the plan and complaints were greatly reduced.

“Another accomplishment was being involved in the hiring of a new Executive Director, Jeff Miller,” Kiefer says. “He’s a great guy doing a great job.”

He also points to the successful creation and launch of the CEA’s Customs and Border Patrol facility in 2021 which was named the 2022 General Aviation Airport Architectural Project of the Year by the American Association of Airport Executives and the organization’s purchase of the Ramada Inn adjacent to the airport, which is planned to be developed into additional corporate hangars.

In the spring, he will be ready to sign on with one of the many CEA flight schools.

“I’ve always wanted to fly,” he explains. “I hope that because I have lots of time now to log hours that I can complete my training in one year.”

Reflecting on his time on the CEA board, he says that he will miss the people and being involved in the rhythm of the airport’s operations.

We thank him for his devotion to the organization and fully expect to see him living his dream of flying above us very soon.