Article Courtesy of Las Cruces Sun-News
By Diana M. Alba
Spaceport America officials met Wednesday to formally accept the resignation of Spaceport Authority Director Steve Landeene.
After a closed-door meeting, they also appointed board Chairman Fred Mondragon, based in Santa Fe, to act as executive director until a replacement is named. Mondragon, also state economic development secretary, said he’ll spend two to three days a week in Las Cruces or Truth or Consequences while in the role.
The board granted another of its members, Ben Woods, who’s also a New Mexico State University official, authority to sign documents on Mondragon’s behalf, if Mondragon isn’t able to. Woods said the board will meet again within the next week or two to decide its next steps.
Landeene, 47, served as executive director since January 2008. The Economic Development Department announced his resignation in a news release Friday. Landeene has cited family reasons as the motivation for his decision.
Landeene earns $155,546 annually, said Michael Moxey, spokesman for the New Mexico Economic Development Department. He’ll be paid through May 14, though officials have said he’s only working in an advisory capacity until then.
Spaceport Authority board members Kent Evans and Woods were physically present at the meeting, while members Toots Green of Alamogordo, James Manatt of Roswell, Casey Luna of Belen and Gary White of Truth or Consequences attended by phone.
The spaceport authority oversees the state-owned Spaceport America, a $198 million future launch site for commercial space vehicles that’s under-construction in southeastern Sierra County.
