LAKELAND | Lakeland officials have tapped a Missouri man to run Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.

Eugene Conrad III, deputy director for marketing and air service development at Branson Airport in Hollister, Mo., will begin work Jan. 18, Assistant City Manager Tony Delgado said Tuesday.

Conrad's salary will be $102,000 a year.

He will oversee a staff of 17 and will be responsible for managing the airport's day-to-day operations. He will also oversee all new development and redevelopment of land and facilities, Delgado said.

Conrad could not be reached for comment, but a statement included in a city news release read:

"My dad was an airport director for 30 years so as you can imagine, I have been around aviation my entire life. I have over 10 years of consistently increasing aviation management experience and I look forward to bringing my knowledge and expertise to the City of Lakeland."

Conrad was among 75 applicants for the job, Delgado said.

He said he hopes Conrad will bring experience and enthusiasm to the airport operation, which has suffered years of problems.