Pape selected to lead Division of Aeronautics

A veteran of nearly 30 years in the cockpit and five years as an instrumental part of ITD’s Division of Aeronautics, Mike Pape accepted the position of administrator Monday. He succeeds JV DeThomas who announced his retirement last week.

“I am pleased that Mike has accepted the new challenge as administrator. He has a proven success as a pilot, manager and leader,” said ITD Chief Deputy Scott Stokes in announcing Pape’s selection. “We look forward to the experience and energy Mike brings, and are confident he will make a profound impact on the division and ITD.”

Pape is a veteran pilot, having logged more than 13,000 hours of flying. Before becoming Director of Flight Operations at ITD, he was a captain for Boise Cascade, Albertsons and U.S. Bancorp. He held flight officer positions with Iowa Airways, Eastern Airlines, Pan Am Airways and Ryan International Airlines between 1985 and 1993.

As Director of Flight Operations for the Aeronautics Division, Pape served as chief pilot of all flight operations, oversaw a $300,000 annual budget, was responsible for staffing and supervising ITD pilots, mechanics, schedulers and was Pilot in Command.

Other responsibilities included writing the division’s flight operations manual, the aviation safety program manual, crisis response manual and aircrafts-specific standard operating procedures.

Pape graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science (1985) and began pursuing a Master of Business of Administration at Boise State University.

He is a past president of the Idaho Business Aviation Association and serves on the Boise Airport Commission. The new administrator is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie program and Toastmasters where he served as club president and area governor.

“I have worked as an aviation professional for nearly 30 years. I have accomplished every career-related goal I have set for myself,” Pape explains. “For the next 20 years, I seek to use my skills to reach new heights in the aviation industry.

Published 9-28-2012