Award Is The Highest Honor Bestowed By The Organization

The Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) ha named Louis E. Miller as the recipient of the 2016 Williams E. Downes, Jr. Memorial Award. The Downes Award is presented by ACI-NA 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 is the highest honor given by ACI-NA. The award was presented during a special ceremony at the 2016 ACI-NA/World Annual Conference and World General Assembly in Montréal on September 27, 2016.

“ACI-NA is proud to honor Louis Miller as the recipient of the 2016 William E. Downes Jr. Award,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “Louis has a clear record of success in advancing the industry though his significant contributions while leading Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Tampa International Airport, and Salt Lake City International Airport, as well as his important work that strengthened Airports Council International as a global organization.”
 
Each year, ACI-NA presents the Downes Award to an aviation leader who has demonstrated strong and outstanding leadership and action in the cause of airports and aviation as a vital part of the local, national or worldwide aviation community; successful work for acceptance, development and support of needed airport programs; cooperation among various segments of aviation, with the goal of bettering airports; or, conceived or fostered a creative or innovative approach to solving today's problems and planning for future airport and aviation development.
 
After an aviation career lasting more than 30 years, Miller retired in December 2013 after serving as the Aviation General Manager for the City of Atlanta Department of Aviation, where he had served for three years. In that position he was responsible for the management and operation of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
 
Prior to Atlanta, Miller served as Executive Director of Tampa International Airport for 13 years and as Executive Director of the Salt Lake City International Airport 13 years. He started his airport career as Salt Lake City airports’ chief accountant.
 
Miller was also a long-time member of ACI and ACI-NA, helping shape the organization to make it more responsive to the evolving needs of airports. He also served as a leading advocate by shaping federal legislation impacting airports.
 
As ACI-NA’s most prestigious award, the “William E. Downes Jr. Memorial Award” is the namesake of Bill Downes, the former commissioner of aviation for the City of Chicago from 1959 to 1975. The Downes award recognizes outstanding leadership and action in the cause of airport or aviation management.

(Image provided with ACI-NA news release. (L-R) ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin Burke, 2016 Downes Recipient Louis Miller, incoming ACI-NA Chair Bill Vanecek)

FMI: www.aci-na.org