DOTD announces aviation award winners
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 8:13:44 AM
Baton Rouge – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announces the winners of the recipients of Louisiana Airport of the Year, David Slayter Memorial Aviation Professional of the Year, and the Allen Taylor Legacy awards. The awards were presented on October 8 at the 2024 Louisiana Airport Managers and Associates Annual Conference held at the Courtyard Marriot in Houma, Louisiana.

“On behalf of the whole department, congratulations to our award winners,” said DOTD Secretary Joe Donahue. “The multimodal commerce aspect is a major and critical component of the agency, and air travel is an integral part of our transportation infrastructure for passengers and cargo alike.”

The award winners are as follows:

“Congratulations to Amelia Hebert, Jason Ball, Rusty Lavergne, Andy Velayos, and Heath Allen, as well as the False River Regional Airport, for being winners of these prestigious awards,” said DOTD Commissioner of Multimodal Commerce Julia Fisher-Cormier. “We’re thrilled to recognize excellence in aviation, and we’re proud to have these winners represent that significant mode of transportation in our state.”









The awards recognize the hardworking airport sponsors and aviation professionals in Louisiana, and the Louisiana Airport of the Year and David Slayter Memorial Aviation Professional of the Year, and the Allen Taylor Legacy awards recognize superior achievement and leadership in the state’s aviation field. These awards honor excellence and professionalism at all levels of airport operations.

To be considered eligible for the Airport of the Year award, an airport must have managed all maintenance inspection issues, managed all significant safety-related features, and made a significant impact on aviation through safety improvements/practices, construction, development, or management of aviation resources.