Los Alamos County Airport Manager David Ploeger honored as Airport Manager of the Year in New Mexico. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.comLos Alamos County Airport Manager David Ploeger is retiring later this year and his career is ending on a high note. Ploeger was awarded Airport Manager of the Year during the Annual State Aviation Conference May 11 in Ruidoso.
Ploeger said the award came as a complete surprise. He added, “It’s quite an honor; we have just over 50 airports in New Mexico so I was really honored by the selection.”
Jane Lucero, airport development administrator for the New Mexico Department of Transportation Aviation Division, said, “Dave runs a fantastic and beautiful airport – he has managed the activities of tenants, an airline and a variety of maintenance and capital projects. Dave joined New Mexico’s aviation community back in 2005 and brought his wealth, knowledge and experience in managing a general aviation airport on the East Coast.”
She added, “During his tenure as airport manager, he has completed several significant projects including a runway extension. Dave has supported the aviation community here in the State by serving the NMAMA as president and is currently on the Board of Directors. Dave has a great relationship with the Federal Aviation Administration and the NMDOT – Aviation Division as well as airport managers across the State.”
Ploeger has spent his entire career in aviation. He served for 25 years in the U.S. Navy as a naval flight officer and when he retired from the Navy, Ploeger became an airport manager in Virginia. He also got his pilot’s license in Virginia.
Ploeger moved to Los Alamos County in 2005 and this is actually his second stint as the County’s airport manager. He first worked as the airport’s manager from 2005-2009. Then Gov. Bill Richardson then appointed him to be Director of Aviation for the state. Ploeger worked in this position for 15 months before working at Delta Airport Consultants in its Albuquerque office. When former Airport Manager Peter Soderquist retired, Ploeger decided to re-apply for the County position and came back to work for Los Alamos in 2014.
It’s a decision he said he is happy he made.
“The County is such a tremendous organization to work for,” Ploeger said. “I work with great people. They are accommodating, they are helpful. They pitch in when needed.
There is no other job in the County where you get to hang out with airplanes all day long.”
As manager, Ploeger addresses maintenance at the airport including its general infrastructure such as lights, the runway and the buildings. He added he also interfaces with all the airport’s tenants and handles all the leases. In addition, Ploeger works with the Federal Aviation Administration and the state aviation division.
On average per year, Ploeger said the airport sees 13,000 takeoffs and landings. It is work he truly enjoys. One of the perks of the job, Ploeger explained, is “the fact that you get to interface with so many people.”
He added that the work is more fun than actual work.
“I enjoy every minute of it. It’s very easy to get up and come to work every day,” Ploeger said.
Ploeger has experienced a lot of interesting aircraft at the airport. He said a few months ago the U.S. Secretary of Defense visited Los Alamos and arrived in town on a C-130, which Ploeger said is the largest plane that ever landed at the airport. An osprey military plane has arrived at the airport as well as a variety of business and private jets, he said.
“You get a real variety,” Ploeger said.
The airport has experienced some significant changes during Ploeger’s time with the County. For instance, the airport runway was extended to 6,000 feet; an additional 450 feet. Ploeger pointed out he wasn’t manager of the airport at the time but was still involved in the project. Additionally, the airport is about to get its first row of County-owned hangars. There will be four hangars in the row. The current hangars are all privately owned. Ploeger said the hope is that the parts will be delivered in August and construction will begin in September. Also in the works is replacing a portion of the security fence.
As Ploeger’s retirement approaches, he said he and his wife plan to move to Idaho Falls and spend time with their grandchildren.
