Victor White, A.A.E., Director of Airports at the Wichita Airport Authority, has announced he will retire at the end of June. The City of Wichita will conduct a national search for his replacement.
White’s professional career spans more than 46 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 pilot license since 1968.
During his time as Director of Airports in Wichita, he lead the team that developed the $250 million new airline terminal complex at Eisenhower National Airport. The new terminal has received numerous national awards for innovation in design and architecture, and the Airport was named the 3rd Best Small Airport for 2020 by USA Today. The services offered at the Airport continue to receive accolades from customers in guest surveys and online postings. In addition, several hundred million dollars in major capital improvement projects were constructed at both Wichita airports under White’s leadership that have improved the infrastructure and completely rebuilt runways, taxiways, ramps, roads, and utility systems around the campuses. Three new low cost airlines were brought in to serve the South Central Kansas region, and passenger traffic at Eisenhower Airport reached an all-time record high in 2019. Nearly 2 dozen new aircraft hangars were built at both airports, multiple new aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities were built, and the National Center for Aviation Training and Wichita State University Tech campus was opened at Jabara Airport during his tenure. The B-29 Doc hangar, education and visitors center that is the home base of the historic aircraft was also built on Eisenhower Airport. A second hotel was also constructed at Eisenhower.
White received the American Association of Airport Executives’ (AAAE) Distinguished Service Award in 2019, which is presented to airport executives in honor of an exemplary career and contributions to the airport 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 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 Accredited Airport Executive in 1985. Throughout his career, he has also been active in the Airports Council International-North America, where he has served on every specialty committee of the industry organization that represents the agencies and governing bodies that own and operate commercial airline airports in the United States and Canada.
