Airports Authority Chooses Ex-Postmaster To Be CEO

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) -- The board that oversees two Washington-area airports has selected former Postmaster General John Potter as its new president and chief executive.

As CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Potter will oversee Washington Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport.

He also will be in charge of the construction of a planned $6 billion Metrorail extension to Dulles. Virginia politicians say the agency has not done enough to control the project's costs.

Potter served 10 years as postmaster general after joining the Postal Service as a clerk in 1978.

The MWAA has been searching for a replacement for former CEO James Bennett for more than a year. Lynn Hampton has filled the role on an interim basis.

Potter drew fire as postmaster by unsuccessfully seeking to eliminate Saturday service.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)