Rodney Schaaf of Bowman, ND, was recently appointed by Governor Burgum to serve on the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission for a five-year appointment, which became effective on July 1, 2023.

Rodney has been an active member of the North Dakota aviation community throughout his life. He became a pilot in the U.S. Air Force in the early 1970s, where his first assignment sent him to the Grand Forks Air Base as a KC-135 flight crew member. Following his honorable discharge in 1978, Rodney was hired as a pilot for Delta Air Lines and had a successful career until his retirement in 2004. 

In 2007, Rodney was appointed to serve on the Bowman County Airport Authority, and he has acted as the chairman of the board for over a decade. In this role, he was instrumental in the planning, design, and construction of the new Bowman Regional Airport, which was opened to the public in 2015. 

Rodney was also inducted into the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in March 2023.

“We are excited to welcome Rodney within his new role, where he will provide guidance and oversight to our work at the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission,” stated Executive Director, Kyle Wanner.

His experience within the field of aviation will complement our work to grow airport infrastructure and aeronautical services throughout the state of North Dakota.