Flying high

Okaloosa County Airports Director Greg Donovan was awarded the state’s top aviation honor Tuesday morning during the Florida Airports Council’s annual conference. In receiving the Aviation Professional of the Year, Donovan beat out nominees from the state’s busiest airports, including Miami, Orlando and Tampa/St. Petersburg.

“It’s a huge award,” said Okaloosa County Airports project manager Tracy Stage. “He competed with the big, big boys at the massive international airports, and he won.”

Stage said Donovan was surprised by the nomination and receipt of the recognition.

“He got a standing ovation from a packed conference room,” Stage said. “He’s shaking. He’s extremely happy and honored.”

In the letter of nomination Stage submitted, unbeknownst to Donovan, to the Florida Department of Transportation, he related the Northwest Florida Regional Airport litany of recent successes, including jobs generation directly accredited to the airport’s growth.

“As the airports director, Greg can be credited as a key player to the recovery of our region after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill,” Stage wrote. “After the disaster in April of 2010, Greg secured a high quality low-cost carrier, Vision Airlines, to Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) with 20 non-stop destinations. This singular achievement netted the airport an additional 128 direct jobs and an annual impact of over $370 million.

“In total, economic development experts in the region estimate the Okaloosa County Airport System’s economic impact is $509 million annually and the airports create 4,500 jobs in the region.”

In addition to the county’s commercial airport, Donovan also oversees Crestview Bob Sikes Airport and Coleman Kelly Field in Destin, Okaloosa County’s local general aviation airports. He a member of the Florida Airports Council since October 2001 and currently serves as the council’s vice president. He is expected to assume the presidency of the Council in October, Stage said.

Stage said Donovan’s award will draw positive industry notice to all three facilities.

“This is a state-level award and it got attention across the industry,” Stage said. “This is going to reflect well across the state and the region.”