Victor White, A.A.E., director of airports at the Wichita (Kan.) Airport Authority, will receive the American Association of Airport Executives’ (AAAE) Distinguished Service Award, which is presented to airport executives in honor of an exemplary career and contributions to the airport industry.

“Vic is an invaluable colleague who has served the nation’s aviation community in many important roles over his remarkable career, including highly-respected airport leader and active AAAE member,” said AAAE Chair Tory Richardson, A.A.E., president and CEO, Gerald R. Ford International Airport. “In addition to more than four and a half decades of tireless service to the aviation industry, Vic has devoted his time and expertise in a wide range of volunteer positions that have resulted in countless improvements throughout our industry.”

The Distinguished Service Award is one of AAAE’s highest levels of recognition. Men and women receive the award as a mark of accomplishments in their professional and personal lives. Respected leaders of their own communities, these men and women also contribute to other aviation organizations, serve AAAE and its chapters, and participate in civic and community affairs. Distinguished Service Award winners exemplify the best in airport management by continually bringing credit to the profession and the aviation community. All DSA winners are Accredited Airport Executives (A.A.E.) and exemplify the standards accreditation seeks to inspire. White will receive the award this afternoon at a meeting of the Wichita Airport Authority Advisory Board of Directors.

White has been active in many aspects of AAAE over the years, including serving on the board of directors of the South Central Chapter and the Northwest Chapter, culminating in being elected to serve as chapter president of both organizations. He has served as conference chair of the AAAE Airport Planning, Design and Construction Symposium and the Northwest Chapter Annual Conference. Since joining AAAE in the late 1970s, White has served on every AAAE committee. He became an A.A.E. in 1985.

White’s professional career spans more than 45 years. He joined the city of Wichita Airport Authority as director of airports in 2005, where he directs the administration, operations and development of both Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita. Prior to that, he was executive director of Orlando Sanford International Airport; deputy director of airports for the Salt Lake City Airport Authority; director of airports for Midland International Airport; executive director of the Waukegan (Ill.) Port District; and duty airport manager at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. He was also an airport management consultant with Landrum & Brown in Cincinnati and an airport management intern at Saint Louis Lambert International Airport.

In addition, White has served as a board member of the Illinois Public Airports Association, the Texas Airport Managers’ Association, the Greater Orlando Economic Development Council, the MetroPlan Orlando regional transportation planning organization and the Sanford/Seminole County Chamber of Commerce in Florida. He was Vice Chairman of the Florida Department of Transportation’s Central Florida Aviation System Plan. He has also served on the Kansas Governor’s Aviation Advisory Council, the Kansas State University Airport Management Advisory Council, the Wichita Area Economic Outlook Team, the World Trade Council of Wichita, the Kansas International Trade Task Force, the Wichita Chamber of Commerce Air Service Task Force and the Wichita Insight Leadership Team. White is a 1974 graduate of Saint Louis University and has held a private pilot license since 1968.

Article originally posted on aviationpros.com.