Andrews County Airport Manager Robert Vargas celebrates winning the Airport Professional of the Year award.
Robert Vargas, the winner of this year’s airport professional of the year award has made quite an impact on Andrews County Airport and the community since becoming airport manager in 2010.
For years, he served as the sole airport employee but now has a staff of two others to assist him in maintenance, operations, and customer service. As the exclusive provider of fuel and transient aircraft services at the airport, the airport now has a dedicated staff member to ensure their tenants’ and visitors’ first impression of the county – the airport – is a positive one.
Vargas leads many local initiatives that should be emulated by other airports, from undertaking local maintenance projects to deter wildlife and beautify the airport (using both RAMP and local-only funding mechanisms), to educating local decisionmakers on the value of protecting and investing in the airport.
He recently stepped up to serve on the Texas Aviation System Plan’s Project Advisory Committee, adding a valuable voice of our state’s panhandle and rural airports to the development of our aviation system’s strategic plan for the future. Additionally, he proactively works with the local community to increase awareness of and investment in the airport.
Vargas takes a very hands-on approach to the airport, from greeting customers and tenants to airfield maintenance and operations. He is an energetic, enthusiastic, and dedicated airport manager and champion of Texas’ aviation system as a whole.
Robert has gone above and beyond both what is expected of any airport manager and what should be expected with the resources he has available to him. The results speak for themselves as Andrews County Airport is a sparkling clean, well-maintained facility.