Ryan Reeves, the head at Chandler Municipal Airport, has just snagged the 2025 Airport Executive of the Year award from the Arizona Airports Association (AzAA). He also received the President’s Award, which recognizes exceptional leadership and service in the Arizona aviation scene. Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke chimed in, saying, "These awards reflect Ryan’s tireless dedication to aviation excellence and community engagement," according to Chandler, Arizona.
Reeves has been managing the airport since 2022 and has been busy developing the place with infrastructure fixes and forward-thinking planning to keep the airport safe and ready for tomorrow's growth. This past April, Reeves and his team did some groundbreaking work with the FAA and some researchers, flying around in choppers to create safety rules for vertical takeoff and landing spots across the country. AzAA President Dave Reffner gave him a shout-out, claiming, "Ryan is a consummate professional who not only manages one of the busiest general aviation airports in the nation, but also gives back to the aviation community in meaningful ways. He’s highly deserving of both these awards."
Digging into his 20 years of knowledge, Reeves digs into giving back to the community, too. He's throwing his weight behind AzAA and other aviation clubs, shaping future rules of the sky and being a guru to tomorrow's airport big shots. When he's not buried in policies and mentorships, he's all about Airport Day, an upcoming bash at the airport set for January 2026, and keeping the public updated with tours after the summer ends.
