FAA’s Karen Miles Named Recipient of 2017 ACC Agency Best Practices Award

The Airport Consultants Council (ACC) has announced the selection of Karen Miles, Civil Engineering Project Manager in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Seattle Airports District Office, for the 2017 ACC Agency Best Practices Award, in recognition of her outstanding leadership and role she held in the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PMRA) Runway Realignment Design and Construction Project.

The purpose of the ACC Agency Best Practices Award is to draw attention to government agency individuals who exemplify teamwork, demonstrate their understanding of effective stakeholder interface, and exhibit an ability to be flexible and innovative. The award was presented during the ACC Airports Technical Workshop Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, June 21, 2017.

Miles was recognized for fostering an atmosphere of team work, collaboration and innovation to solve the complex challenges that the runway realignment design and construction project encountered.  Her team, consisting of the FAA, Airport staff, community leaders and consultants, have been inspired by Miles to achieve clear, consistent and collaborative communication to address challenges early, while ensuring the overall solutions took into account the Airport, airport users, the surrounding community and the region.

The PMRA Runway Realignment Design and Construction Project is one of many projects that Miles is managing for the Seattle ADO. However, the grace and ease in which she performs her roles reflect in the stability of her work. Her leadership continues to be invaluable in all of her projects across the Northwest Mountain Region.

“We are incredibly pleased to present Karen Miles with the 2017 ACC Agency Best Practices Award, in recognition of her service and contributions to the airport community,” stated ACC Board Chair Roddy Boggus, with Suffolk. “Karen’s efforts to foster collaboration and teamwork to solve project challenges exemplify the criteria for the award. ACC member companies commend her for her consistent leadership and innovation.”

Karen joined the FAA in 1998 and has enjoyed working with airports of all sizes across the State of Washington on their development projects.  Prior to joining the FAA, Miles worked for 15 years as an airport engineering consultant for the firm Reid Middleton, Inc.  She had design, construction inspection, and overall project management responsibilities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Washington State University, and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Washington.