Former director of engineering named airport executive director

PITTSTON TWP. — The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport bi-county board unanimously voted Thursday to appoint Stephen Mykulyn as the airport’s new executive airport.

Mykulyn, who previously served director of engineering, had been serving as the interim executive director of the airport since March.

Mykulyn will earn a salary of $150,000 on a three-year contract with two one-year extensions, said Chris Belles, the board’s chairman.

The board previously voted Aug. 27 to hire Kim “Bill” Hopper as the airport’s next executive director but was unable to finalize a contact with Hopper, who withdrew from consideration for the position in September.

Hopper served as executive director of the Pitt-Greenville Airport Authority in Greenville, North Carolina from February 2019 through June 2026.

Lackawanna and Luzerne counties share ownership of the airport in Pittston Twp. and Avoca.

Carl Beardsley Jr. was the airport’s director from January 2015 until late 2025 when he went on sabbatical leave for a non-disciplinary reason. The sabbatical became a permanent leave.

Check back for updates.