BY DAN HILDEBRAN
The retired leader of the Florida National Guard was elected by his colleagues on the Keystone Heights Airport board to chair the airport’s governing board during the board’s May 6 meeting.
Maj. Gen. James O. Eifert relinquished command of the 12,000-member force in April 2023. He retired after over four decades of military service and four years as the state’s highest-ranking military official.
Outgoing airport board chair David Kirkland nominated Eifert to take over for him. He told his fellow board members last year that he did not plan to reapply for his board seat once his current term ends in 2026.
“I’ve been on the board since ‘09,” he said. “I’ve been chairman since ‘14 and I am ready to pass the torch.”
The board also elected David Dagenais as vice chair.
