August 5, 2024—Christian Nelson, operations manager at Blue Grass Airport, is the recipient of the 2024 Emerging Professional Award from the Great Lakes Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). Presented at the association’s annual conference, held in Lexington, Kentucky this year, the Emerging Professional Award celebrates and encourages early-career airport professionals who exhibit high standards, demonstrate significant leadership potential and perform commendable service to their communities or to the airport profession.
“This award is a testament to Christian’s outstanding contributions to our industry and his dedication to inspiring other young professionals to actively engage in the field of aviation,” said Eric Frankl, president & CEO of Blue Grass Airport. “Christian’s achievements not only reflect his personal commitment to excelling at all that he does, but he also inspires his colleagues and elevates our entire team.”
As the operations manager at Blue Grass Airport, Mr. Nelson is responsible for maintaining operational efficiency for the airfield and terminal, including ensuring the airport is compliant with Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration regulations. In addition, he oversees the day-to-day management of the department including telecommunications, badge credentialing and access control, inspection of the airfield and other facilities, and coordination and implementation of safety and security plans.
Mr. Nelson has been a member of the American Association of Airport Executives since April 2016 and has achieved the Certified Member (C.M.) designation. He is enrolled in the Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) program with the hopes of advancing his professional development.
Actively involved in mentoring and networking with other airport professionals, Mr. Nelson focuses especially on the younger generation. He has served as a student mentor at the AAAE Annual Conference, where he shared his insights and experiences with aspiring airport managers. In addition, he has been a part-time aviation instructor at Eastern Kentucky University since 2022, serves as the AAAE liaison for the university’s student chapter, and oversees Blue Grass Airport’s operations internship program, which just welcomed its 20th intern. Mr. Nelson is also an aviation advisory committee member for Fayette County Schools and a recent graduate of Leadership Lexington.