Bill LaManque has joined the Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV) as a senior aviation planner. He will help dozens of airports across the Commonwealth improve their infrastructure to better serve the flying public. Bill fulfills a role in the Planning and Environmental Section vacated by Scott Denny as he assumed the role of program manager for Advanced Air Mobility for DOAV.
LaManque brings a wealth of experience to DOAV that includes work in both operations and aviation. He most recently served as the business development director at Newport News-Williamsburg Airport, where he was a member of the technical advisory board responsible for developing the airport master plan.
Prior to working on the business development side, LaManque held the title of operations supervisor at both the Newport News and Norfolk International airports. In the operational capacity, he served as the liaison to all airport constituents, including overseeing public safety, commercial airlines, Transportation Security Administration, and airport vendors.
“We are very pleased to have Bill join our team in the Planning and Environmental Section at DOAV,” said Rusty Harrington, section manager. “He brings with him a well-rounded skillset formed from both aviation and airport experience, combined with a demonstrated love of lifelong learning. He is already making his way around the Commonwealth and applying his knowledge to assist our airport sponsors as we speak.”
LaManque’s experience also includes working as a chief flight instructor and commercial pilot for Freedom Aviation. He managed a large, multi-location Part 141 flight school and aircraft repair facility. In addition, LaManque served as a teacher, flight instructor and commercial pilot with the Newport News Public School District.
With aviation experience spanning several decades, LaManque got his start in the field working as a ramp agent and in customer service before holding roles as an airline pilot and flight instructor. He worked with PanAm, United Airlines and USAir. LaManque flew as a research pilot on several NASA projects and was awarded a contract to teach a private pilot ground school course to 50 NASA-Langley engineers. He has managed and mentored dozens of pilots while accumulating more than 6,000 flight hours as an instructor.
LaManque said, “I am excited and humbled to join the outstanding team at the Virginia Department of Aviation. Everyone at DOAV has been incredibly helpful and encouraging during my first several days. I bring a lot of operations and flying experience from previous roles and am confident those skills will transfer well to my new position as a senior aviation planner.”
LaManque holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Christopher Newport University, and an MBA from Longwood University. In addition to his many pilot ratings, he is an Airport Certified Employee (ACE) from the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).
