President of 21st Century Partnership steps down

The president and chief executive officer of the 21st Century Partnership, an organization that helps protect the regional viability of Robins Air Force Base and the jobs of its 20,000-plus workers, resigned late last week.

Charles Stenner Jr., who took the helm in August 2014, told Partnership officials on Thursday that he would be stepping down Dec. 15.

Stenner, a 65-year-old who retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant general in 2012, emailed word of his resignation to community leaders on Saturday, said the Partnership's board chairman, Rob Brooks.

"He's been a great leader for us," Brooks said Sunday.

"We're gonna miss him, but it's no big shock or anything. ... I'm disappointed we're losing him, but at the same time he's put us in good shape."

Brooks said the organization may turn to an interim president while it searches for Stenner's successor.

"He said he felt like he'd accomplished what he needed to get done and just felt like this was a good time," Brooks said.

"We're gonna tie up a few loose ends there and work on a plan for replacement leadership."

This story was originally published November 22, 2015 at 5:34 PM with the headline "President of 21st Century Partnership steps down ."