County Executive Melissa Agard appoints John Schlueter as Director of Human Services and Mark Papko as Director of the Dane County Regional Airport
April 25, 2025
execmedia@danecounty.gov, 608-800-1127
County Executive, Human Services Department, Airport
MADISON, WI – Dane County Executive Melissa Agard is pleased to announce the appointments of John Schlueter as the new Director of the Dane County Department of Human Services and Mark Papko as the new Director of the Dane County Regional Airport. Both bring a strong management background and a wealth of experience to lead two departments many Dane County residents interact with often.
John Schlueter most recently served as an area director of the Social Security Administration for Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. He oversaw over 500 employees in thirty different offices managing services to Social Security recipients for retirement, disability, family, survivor, and supplemental income benefits as well as enrolling people in Medicare. Schlueter has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science degrees in Social Work from UW-Madison and began his career as a Juvenile Court Social Worker for Dane County.
“Welcoming John Schlueter back to the Dane County team as the new Director of Human Services is a wonderful opportunity for our community. His significant experience in delivering services through Social Security that many residents in the Dane County region rely on will be a tremendous asset for our department,” said County Executive Agard. “His extensive knowledge of the federal system will also be beneficial to Dane County as we work through the chaotic changes coming from Washington in human services funding and support.”
Schlueter has received dozens of federal employment awards throughout his career with the federal government. In his current role he handles all Equal Employment Opportunity complaints and is responsible for the annual audits of all 30 offices of his area.
“John will hit the ground running thanks to the strong leadership at the Dane County Department of Human Services and the dedicated staff who work every day to serve our community,” noted Agard.
The new Director of the Dane County Regional Airport, Mark Papko, was most recently the Director of Operations and Projects for the Duluth International Airport. He held that position since 2020 where he oversaw the planning and execution of a $200 million capital improvement plan and led airport environmental compliance initiatives by working with federal, state, and local partners to address stormwater and PFAs mitigation issues. He has also worked at Grand Junction Regional Airport, San Jose International Airport, and O’Hare International Airport.
“I am excited to have Mark Papko lead the Dane County Regional Airport into a new transformative era aimed at expanding service, driving economic growth for our region, and bolstering tourism,” said Agard. “His strong background in airport operations and building high-performance teams will help continue the impressive growth the airport team has worked hard to build since the pandemic.”
Papko has a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Operations from St. Cloud State and a Master of Business Administration in Aviation from Embry Riddle Aeronautical. In 2013 he was an airport operations intern for the Dane County Regional Airport.
“Mark’s extensive experience at multiple airports will help us continue the strong service and excellent reputation our team at the airport cultivated,” said Agard. “I can’t wait to see what this new team does next together.”
The contact for the new Human Services Director will go to the Health and Human Needs Committee and then the Personnel and Finance Committee for consideration before going to the full County Board for a vote. The contract for the new Airport Director will go to the Airport Commission, the Public Works and Transportation Committee, and then the Personnel and Finance Committee before going to the full County Board for a vote.
About the Dane County Department of Human Services:
The Dane County Department of Human Services oversees a wide range of services aimed at enhancing the well-being of county residents, including mental health services, support for individuals with disabilities, and programs for children and families. With an annual budget of approximately $313 million, the department works collaboratively with community partners to deliver essential services.
About the Dane County Regional Airport:
Celebrating 85 years of commercial flight, the Dane County Regional Airport provides seamless, low-stress, and affordable options for both leisure and business travelers with daily arrivals and departures, non-stop and one-stop service that provides access to nearly every worldwide destination. DCRA recently opened all gates in the 90,000-square-foot expansion of its south terminal with new and updated amenities.