21st Century Partnership names new director

The 21st Century Partnership announced Wednesday that retired Air Force Col. Dan Penny will be its new executive director.

Penny, a Warner Robins resident, served 28 years in the Air Force and 18 years with Lockheed Martin. Also, he is board chairman of the Museum of Aviation Foundation.

He begins the new job Aug. 15.

“Col. Penny’s proven leadership within Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Air Force and Middle Georgia, coupled with his keen planning ability will bode well for Robins Air Force Base and Middle Georgia,” Rob Brooks, chairman of the 21st Century Partnership, said in a release. “We are thrilled to welcome him to the team.”

The position has been vacant since December, following the resignation of retired Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner.

Penny served in Air Force Special Operations Command as a navigator on the AC-130 gunship, which is maintained at Robins. He is a veteran of Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm.

Penny said he had been thinking of retiring from Lockheed Martin and thought the 21st Century Partnership job sounded like a good opportunity.

“I’m excited and anxious to get to work,” he said.

Bob Hatcher, Chairman of the 21st Century Partnership Foundation, and Brooks have been working together since January as co-chairmen of a committee to find a new director, the release stated. After interviewing a wide variety of candidates, the release stated, Penny’s name “rose to the top.”

He was offered the job after an interview with the 21st Century Partnership board Friday.

Chrissy Miner, who formerly worked for the partnership and now is president of the Museum of Aviation Foundation, said Penny was a good choice.

“He has done phenomenal work and has been a great leader to guide us to the future,” she said. “I think it’s wonderful for the partnership to have a proven leader.”

The partnership is an organization of business and community leaders that advocates for Robins, particularly in the event of a Base Realignment and Closure Commission. Most observers believe there is an increasing likelihood of a new BRAC in the near future.

This story was originally published July 27, 2016 at 1:59 PM with the headline "21st Century Partnership names new director."