DESTIN - FORT WALTON BEACH AIRPORT OFFICIAL NEWSLETTERFALL 2018

FROM THE AIRPORTS DIRECTORI hope this newsletter finds you well! We are very lucky and thankful with mixed thoughts as our neighbors close by have been through catastrophic events that will take years to recover from. Our actions, thoughts and prayers are with them and we hope for quick normalcies to return. It has been a whirlwind of happenings at VPS and all your airports are thriving with success. VPS has experienced double digit growth for the past 24 consecutive months over previous year periods with a track to reach nearly 1.5 million passengers who have traveled through our doors in 2018. Most rewarding, is the amount of new jobs created due to the significant growth; 493 new jobs have been created in the past ten months alone. The growth is fantastic; yet, it brings capacity challenges that are the highest of priorities to ensure we continue to exceed our customers’ expectations. It is hard to single out any one event; however, our highlight event of the summer was recognizing the family of Master Sergeant John Chapman as they flew out of our airport to receive his posthumously-awarded Medal of Honor from the President in Washington, D.C., which you’ll read about below. Thank you to all the public and the USAF for the strong turnout of support, what a fabulous day it was! We are proud to host community events like this that celebrate and connect both local military and civilians who travel through our airport each day.

A few key projects began this summer including the rehabilitation of our taxiways D1 and D2, the expansion of our fuel farm, and the design of the expansion of our baggage handling system. These projects will allow for a boost in the passenger experience as we complete a Master Plan update: a roadmap and vision of the future of our airport and the improvements we intend to make. Stay tuned for a public meeting that will showcase these plans!

We’re gearing up for the holiday travel season, and plan to “deck the halls” in holiday cheer and feature some performances from local schools and community organizations throughout December for passengers and employees to enjoy and get in the holiday spirit.

- Tracy Stage, Airports Director, Okaloosa County Airports

THIS ISSUE:

Local Hero’s Family Departs VPS to Receive Medal of HonorPage 2

Page 5

Destin Executive wins FDOT General Aviation Project of the Year

FALL 2018 - AIRWAVES • 2

MEDAL OF HONOR FAMILY DEPARTS VPS TO DCA

The family of Master Sergeant John Chapman flew out of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport on Monday, August 20, as they headed to Washington, D.C. for President Trump to posthumously award Sgt. Chapman the Medal of Honor. John Chapman, a fallen U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Combat Controller, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism in March 2002 while deployed to Afghanistan. Valerie Nessel, the widow of MSgt. Chapman, and their two daughters Brianna and Madison Chapman, traveled to accept the award. Chapman was first Airman recognized with the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War, and the 19th Airman awarded the medal since the Department of the Air Force was established in 1947. The local Patriot Guard Riders motorcycle group greeted Nessel on the curb of the terminal building. As they traveled through the terminal to their gate, the airport was lined with local military personnel from Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, and Duke Field, as well as airport employees, local dignitaries, law enforcement officers, and civilians, all holding U.S. flags as they made their way to gate B6. Okaloosa County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel addressed the entire airport through the PA system, acknowledging the family and their purpose of travel, and giving a heroic recount of MSgt. Chapman’s efforts during a heroic rescue attempt on Takur Ghar mountain, Afghanistan in March 2002.

ABOVE: Ms. Valerie Nessel (right) and her daughter Brianna Chapman, family of Medal of Honor recipient MSgt. John Chapman, walk to the gate for their departure to Washington, D.C. TOP RIGHT: Local military service members and civilians line the terminal awaiting the arrival of the Chapman family. BOTTOM RIGHT: Local Patriot Guard Riders motorcycle

group await the arrival of the Chapman family at VPS.

FALL 2018 - AIRWAVES • 3

CURRENT PROJECTS

AIR SERVICE

American Airlines announced their non-stop flight from VPS to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), which begins

on March 5 on their Embraer E-175 jet.

Allegiant, in part of their celebration of bringing 40 million passengers to the state of Florida, gave away a full air travel refund to the Flight 1902 from VPS to Belleville/St. Louis

(BLV) on September 27.

LEFT: demolition and progress underway on the taxiway rehabilitation project of

Taxiways D1 & D2 at VPS.

RIGHT: construction of the concrete slab which will hold the additional fuel tanks for the fuel farm expansion

project.

FALL 2018 - AIRWAVES • 4

GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORTSBOB SIKES AIRPORT (CEW)

DESTIN EXECUTIVE AIRPORT (DTS)

TeCMEN Industry Day

Air Traffic Control TowerThe Florida Department of Transportation named the Destin Executive Airport Lt. Gen. Leroy Manor Air Traffic Control Tower the General Aviation Airport Project of the Year. FDOT based its award criteria on aesthetics, safety and service to the state of Florida. The tower monitors and directs air traffic in the vicinity of the airport from 6AM to 10PM every day, and has significantly improved the local air traffic which contains a mix of commercial, private, and military aircraft.

Airport staff attended the Technology Coast Manufacturing and Engineering Network (TeCMEN) Industry Day at the Emerald Coast Convention Center, meeting with local aviation and engineering companies who can do business with our three County airports. Our main objective was to spread awareness of the ample opportunities available at Bob Sikes Airport (CEW) in Crestview for companies to lease space and develop, including the shovel-ready “Florida First Site” Okaloosa County Industrial Air Park, adjacent to CEW.ABOVE: Airports Director Tracy Stage (left) with

Airports Deputy Director of Finance Allyson Oury.

FAR RIGHT: Airports Director Tracy Stage (left) and Airports General Aviation & Projects Manager Chad Rogers (right) receive the FDOT GA Project

of the Year award.

RIGHT: Destin Executive Lt. Gen. Leroy Manor ATCT on the day of the Tower Dedication Ceremony in

January 2017.

FALL 2018 - AIRWAVES • 5

SNAPSHOT

On September 11, the Transporation Security Administration (TSA) at VPS temporarily closed the security checkpoint to hold a moment of silence to remember those

lost on the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

2018 Airport Staff

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Airport Security Unit

VPS Airport Ambassador Patrick Powell receives Employee of the Quarter at the

monthly Aviation Board meeting!

Employee SpotlightLori Fox

Executive Assistant II

Family: Daughter - Rebekah and husband, Leon with Grandson Elon live in Melbourne, FL & Logan - son, currently attending UWFHometown: Laurel Hill

When did you start working for Okaloosa County: I originally began working for Okaloosa County in July 1985. We PCS’d to Holloman AFB and upon my return to Florida, my old position became vacant and I was rehired in my same posi-tion in 2003.

First job ever: Crestview Cinema III (old Crestview movie theatre)Favorite memory/project working at VPS: Opening of the new terminal building and being a part of historical events such as the Emerald Coast Honor Flights.

What motivates you to wake up and go to work? My co-workers are more of a family and it is nice to work in that type of environment.

What do you like to do in your free time? Read and enjoy time with family and friends.

Favorite destination? Any location where my grandbaby is.

FALL 2018 - AIRWAVES • 6

ON THE RADARStay tuned for the schedule of holiday music performances by

members of our local community at the airport!

IN THE NEWS

850 Business MagazineFall 2018 Issue