MONTEREY >> Monterey Regional Airport leaders had a ceremonial groundbreaking celebration Friday for its currently estimated $100 million new replacement passenger terminal and took the opportunity to say thanks to retiring Executive Director Mike La Pier.

“We’re here to celebrate the progress we’ve made,” said Monterey Peninsula Airport District Board of Directors Chair Carl Miller, a member of the board for nearly 19 years. “Not only are we building a new terminal where we’re standing right now, we’re also doing 425,000 feet of new airport ramp right in front of us. We’ve built a new fire station, we’ve built new hangars, there’s been a lot to do.”

The proceedings were held on the site where the new terminal building will stand with the recently constructed airport ramps as a backdrop. Aircraft were flying in and taking off nearby as the existing terminal building, constructed in the 1950s, continues its daily functions of serving travelers and housing the airport’s board and administration staff.

Miller acknowledged La Pier’s last day by saying that following the groundbreaking, La Pier would be retiring after 44 years in the airport industry, adding, “Thank you, Mike, for everything you’ve done for us.”

La Pier said he considers it a great pleasure to have led the Monterey airport.

“I was handed a gem by Tom (Greer, former executive director) and we just carried it forward,” said La Pier. “I am filled with a lot of pride today. The airport team has worked tirelessly to bring the project to this point.”

Upon completion, the new replacement passenger terminal will boast nearly 63,000 square feet of public space to serve the more than 600,000 passengers annually who currently move through the Monterey airport. The new facility will likely be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certified, have five passenger boarding bridges, eight commercial aircraft parking spaces and offer 440 public parking spaces. The new terminal is expected to deliver a modern, accessible and efficient travel experience once the terminal is open, estimated to happen in spring 2027.

“I am damn proud of where we are today,” said La Pier. “It’s a great way to end a career.”

La Pier took advantage of his time at the podium to acknowledge the person who will be stepping in during the search for his permanent replacement — Deputy Executive Director Chris Morello has been named interim executive director.

“I can’t think of a better person to do that,” said La Pier. “Chris will be the leader of this airport and is well-positioned to do that.”

Morello said she is at the helm through December. The airport district board is slated to begin an open search for the permanent executive director position in July.

“I’m excited, but a little nervous,” said Morello. “It’s a big responsibility and I have some big shoes to fill.”

On Thursday, one of La Pier’s last actions was to put his signature on a $14.2 million grant for the new terminal.

The replacement passenger terminal is one project of many in the more than $200 million Monterey Regional Airport Metamorphosis Safety Enhancement Program, which is a Federal Aviation Administration requirement to enhance safety at the airport. The program is made possible through multiple and significant federal grants.

Other projects in the program include, a state-of-the-art Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Station which opened in 2023, new general aviation hangars on the airport’s north side, completed in 2023, and the future relocation of Taxiway A, the final phase of the MRY Metamorphosis SEP.

Along with Miller, La Pier and Morello, other speakers included FAA Manager of the San Francisco Airport District Office Amy Choi, Hensel Phelps Construction Regional Vice President for Northern California, Otto Construction Vice President of Estimating and Pre-Construction Natalie Hayward and See Monterey President and CEO Rob O’Keefe.Hensel Phelps Construction is the developer for the replacement terminal and Otto Construction is the developer for the roadways and parking areas.

Shared certificates of recognition on behalf of elected representatives were presented by Office of U.S. House of Representative Jimmy Panetta Director of District Operations Erin Davison, Office of Senator John Laird Press Secretary Justin Tran, Senior District Representative Isabel Meza, Office of State Assembly member Dawn Addis, and Communications Director Alexis Garcia-Arrazola.