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The Metropolitan Airports Commission named a new CEO Monday.

Brian Ryks, 52, a Lakeville native, has managed airports in St. Cloud and Duluth. He most recently ran the airport in Grand Rapids, Mich. 

In his new role at the MAC, Ryks will be leading the agency that hosts more than 30 million airport passengers at its main terminals each year.

Ryks began his airport career as a noise technician at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. He said he and his family are happy to be returning to Minnesota.

"When you can land in the airport that's in your home state, that is phenomenal," he said. "That's obviously the goal that we were looking for and I look forward to being back here and serving the MAC and serving the state."

MAC commissioner Don Monaco runs a flight service provider in Duluth. He knew Ryks as the head of the city's airport. 

Ryks, Monaco said, has a sense of public service and cooperative style that he thinks will serve him well guiding the seven Twin Cities airports.


"There's a lot of issues that the MAC has that relate to various communities, whether it's the legislature, or the local communities," Monaco said, "and he really has the skills to be able to establish those strong relationships and work toward common solutions."

Ryks is a private pilot and an FAA safety counselor. He succeeds Jeff Hamiel, who served three decades as the airport CEO. Ryks is expected to start in late May.

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Brian Ryks, 52, a Lakeville native, has managed airports in St. Cloud and Duluth. He most recently ran the airport in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Metropolitan Airports Commission names new CEO

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