GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, today announced that Kent George has been named the recipient of the 2024 William E. Downes, Jr. Memorial Award. The Downes Award, the highest honor given by ACI-NA, is presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in promoting the cause of airports and aviation throughout the local, national, and worldwide communities. The award was presented during a special ceremony at the 2024 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on September 8, 2024.
“Kent George’s dedication to the aviation industry is unparalleled,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “His leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to making airports and communities better than he found them truly embody the spirit of the Downes Award. We are honored to recognize his contributions and impact on the aviation community.”
Kent George’s aviation career spans more than 44 years, marked by his leadership at airports of all sizes – from non-hubs and small hub commercial service airports to large hub facilities. He began his career in Middletown, Pennsylvania, as the Administrative Assistant for Air Operations at Harrisburg International Airport, where he was responsible for the airport’s operating functions. Over the years, George has made a lasting impact on the aviation and airport industry, from Casper, Wyoming, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, leaving an indelible mark on the colleagues and communities he has served.
“I am both humbled and honored to receive this year’s Downes Award,” said Downes Award recipient Kent George.
Throughout his career, George has been a fierce advocate for airports and was instrumental in helping Congress pass the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act in 1990. His dedication to the industry also saw him serve as Chair of ACI-NA in 2005, further cementing his influence and commitment to advancing the airport community.
After serving in leadership positions at the Natrona County International Airport, Reading Regional Airport Authority, Rock Island Airport Authority, and the Allegheny County Airport Authority, George retired as Director of Aviation for the Broward County Aviation Department, Fort Lauderdale, FL, in 2016. Now retired, George continues to contribute to the field as a part-time airport consultant for Principal-KGG Airports, providing advisory and support services to airports, Fixed Base Operators (FBOs), and aviation/airport consulting firms.
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