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Aviation Awards Program

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development-Office of Multimodal Commerce-Aviation Division is proud to announce our Louisiana Airport of the Year and Aviation Professional of the Year awards program. These awards recognize superior achievement and leadership in the aviation field in Louisiana.  Through the power of aviation, people and goods move rapidly, in, around, and out of Louisiana’s airport system.  The opportunity to honor those individuals and facilities within our system provides for recognizing best practices in aviation through this awards program. From lifetime achievement and airport achievement to recognizing outstanding work in a particular discipline, our awards honor excellence and professionalism at all levels of airport operations.

 

The award winners for 2025 will be announced during the Awards Luncheon at the 2025 Louisiana Airport Managers and Associates Annual Conference October 5-7, 2025 in Lake Charles, LA. 

Louisiana Airport Of The Year Eligibility Requirements
Louisiana General Aviation Airport Of The Year Nomination Form
Louisiana Commercial Airport Of The Year Nomination Form
Louisiana Aviation Professional Of The Year Eligibility Requirements
Louisiana Aviation Professional Of The Year Nomination Form
2024 Award Recipients
Louisiana Airport of the Year-General Aviation: False River Regional Airport 

David Slayter Memorial Louisiana Aviation Professionals of the Year: 

    • ​Jason Ball  (Louisiana Regional Airport)   
    • ​Amelia Hebert (Lake Charles Regional Airport)
    • Rusty Lavergne (Flying Wings of Louisiana)
    • Andy Velayos (Federal Aviation Administration)
​Allen R. Taylor Legacy Award: R. Heath Allen, C. M. (Lake Charles Regional Airport)

 

2023 Award Recipients
Louisiana Airport of the Year-General Aviation: Kelly-Dumas Airport 
Louisiana Airport of the Year-Commercial Service: Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport 
David Slayter Memorial Louisiana Aviation Professionals of the Year: 
    • ​Bradley Kutchins, P.E. (Kutchins & Groh, LLC)   
    • ​George Groh, P.E. (Kutchins & Groh, LLC)
    • Joshua Duplantis, C.M. (DOTD)
Allen R. Taylor Legacy Award: Anthony Marino (Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering)

                                                                                                                                                    

2022 Award Recipients
Louisiana Airport of the Year-General Aviation: Natchitoches Regional Airport 
Louisiana Airport of the Year-Commercial Service: Lafayette Regional Airport 

David Slayter Memorial Louisiana Aviation Professionals of the Year: 

    • ​​Steven Picou, A.A.E., ACE (Lafayette Regional Airport)   
    • Tonjia Summerell (DOTD)

Allen R. Taylor Legacy Award: Yvonne Chenevert (False River Regional Airport)

2021 Award Recipients

Louisiana Airport of the Year-General Aviation: Chennault International Airport 

Louisiana Airport of the Year-Commercial Service: Alexandria International Airport 

Louisiana Aviation Professional of the Year: Steven Burdeaux, C.M., ACE  (Minden Airport/Springhill Airport)