Head of N.H. company overseeing airport, business park resigns

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – The head of New Hampshire’s Pease Development Authority has resigned, effective immediately, citing differences with the board that oversees development at the former Air Force Base turned business park and commercial airport.

Dick Green headed the PDA for nearly two years.

In a statement Thursday morning, Green did not cite specifics.

“However, since the beginning of the year, it has become increasingly clear to me and to our board that, while Pease’s future remains bright, we have philosophical differences as to which paths should be pursued to best secure Pease’s future success,” he wrote.

Green, a former mayor of Rochester and former state economic development commissioner, said he is stepping down to try to ensure that the board’s attempts to move the PDA forward are given the best chances to succeed.

PDA Chairman Art Nickless said Green’s resignation is unfortunate and that, differences aside, the agency made great strides under Green’s leadership.

“He and the board have philosophical differences about how to go forward with Pease,” Nickless said. “Suffice it to say that for the betterment of the organization, Dick felt it made sense for him to step down.”

The Pease Development Authority oversees the Pease International Tradeport and the Port of New Hampshire. The Tradeport is a business and industrial park that includes the Pease Air National Guard base and the commercial Portsmouth International Airport.

It was converted from the former Pease Air Force Base.

Nickless also did not cite specifics.