Every year, the Colorado Division of Aeronautics honors a Colorado airport and an aviation professional for their exceptional contributions to the state’s aviation system. This year’s awards were presented at the 2025 Colorado Airport Operators Association (CAOA) Spring Conference, held June 18–20 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Colorado Airport of the Year – Yampa Valley Regional Airport – Hayden, CO
Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN), located in Hayden, Colorado, has been recognized as the 2025 Colorado Airport of the Year by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Division of Aeronautics.
The Colorado Airport of the Year Award is presented annually to recognize Colorado public-use airports that exhibit outstanding contributions to the Colorado Aviation System. Airports distinguished with this recognition demonstrate values that fall in line with the CDOT Division of Aeronautics’ mission to advance a safe, efficient, and effective statewide aviation system through collaboration, investment, and advocacy.
Since 2015, Yampa Valley Regional Airport has been under the leadership of Airport Manager Kevin Booth. After a decade of dedicated service, Booth is set to retire on June 27, 2025. During his tenure, the airport has experienced significant positive transformation, marked by steady growth in passenger traffic, enhanced operational efficiency, and expanded economic impact.
Under Booth’s leadership, the airport implemented a range of forward-looking initiatives. A solar array now supplies more than 20% of the airport’s electricity needs, and a dedicated facility for Atlantic Aviation was constructed to better accommodate private and commercial aviation operations. Booth also forged partnerships with local aviation schools to support paid aviation mechanic internships, investing in the next generation of the industry’s workforce.
The Yampa Valley Regional Airport lies in a high mountain valley of northwestern Colorado at an elevation of about 6,600 feet, surrounded by the rolling hills, open landscapes. The airport serves as the gateway for ski enthusiasts drawn to the famed champagne powder of Steamboat Ski Resort, as well as for visitors eager to explore the wide array of outdoor adventures offered by Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.
According to the 2025 Economic Impact Study of Colorado Airports, Yampa Valley Regional Airport is responsible for supporting 3,574 local jobs, producing $178 million in annual payroll, while generating nearly $313 million in overall business revenue.
The Colorado Airport System consists of 76 public-use airports that support over 348,000 jobs, provide $23.5 billion in annual payroll, and $68.9 billion in total business revenue for the State of Colorado.
Colorado Aviation Professional of the Year – Patrick Heaton – Aviation Planner, Kimley-Horn
The Colorado Division of Aeronautics has named Patrick Heaton, C.M., Aviation Planner at Kimley‑Horn, as the recipient of the 2025 Colorado Aviation Professional of the Year Award. The award was presented by Division Director David Ulane.
The Colorado Aviation Professional of the Year Award is presented annually to recognize an aviation professional in Colorado who has made outstanding contributions to the state’s airport system. Recipients of this award demonstrate values that align with the Division’s mission to advance a safe, efficient, and effective statewide aviation system through collaboration, investment, and advocacy.
Patrick Heaton earned his Bachelor of Science in Aviation and Aerospace Management from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2019. He began his aviation career that same year as an intern with the Colorado Division of Aeronautics. In 2020, he transitioned into a full-time role as an Aviation Planner with Kimley-Horn, where he has since led a variety of high-impact airport and aviation system planning projects spanning both general aviation and commercial airports across the country.
Most recently, Patrick played a pivotal role in the successful development and launch of the Division’s 2025 Colorado Aviation Economic Impact Study. As a Certified Member (C.M.) of the American Association of Airport Executives, Patrick brings a strategic, forward-thinking approach to his work, providing valuable insights and leadership to both Kimley-Horn and the Colorado aviation community.
