Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley has been appointed to serve as chair of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority Board of Directors.

Gila River Indian Community Lt. Gov. Regina Antone will serve as vice-chair, Mesa Mayor John Giles will serve as secretary and Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson will serve as treasurer.

“Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (Gateway Airport) is the economic center of the southeast Valley, and a $1.8 billion per year economic engine for the state of Arizona,” Wheatley stated in a press release. “It’s an honor to serve as chair of the PMGAA board of directors this year as we work together to improve commercial air service and attract additional private development projects to Gateway Airport.”

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is owned and operated by the PMGAA, which includes the municipalities of Apache Junction, Gilbert, Mesa and Queen Creek, as well as the Gila River Indian Community.

Each year, the PMGAA Board elects a slate of officers from the six-member community board representatives.

“Chairwoman Wheatley and the other members of the PMGAA Board of Directors provide leadership, a unified vision and support that guides the continued development and improvement of Gateway Airport,” PMGAA Executive Director and CEO J. Brian O’Neill stated in the release. “PMGAA staff looks forward to working with Chairwoman Wheatley and the PMGAA Board on exciting projects including Gulfstream, Virgin Galactic, Gateway East and SkyBridge Arizona.”

Recently, Wheatley was elected chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments Transportation Policy Committee.