Article Archives
Article Categories
Articles
OAOA Recognizes OCAP Recipients
SWO’s New Terminal Available in 2026
(Stillwater, OK) – Stillwater Regional Airport will enhance flight amenities and options in 2026 through a new 31,375 sq. ft. new terminal that is officially under construction following the groundbreaking ceremony October 1. Federal, state and local officials gathered, along with community leaders and representatives from the aviation community, Federal Aviation Administration and American Airlines to mark the occasion.
“We are elated to be celebrating this monumental development with everyone and for the opportunity to bring a world-class terminal to Stillwater,” Airport Director Kellie Reed said. “We extend our gratitude to American Airlines for eight years of commercial service in Stillwater and we look forward to many continued years of that partnership.”
American Airlines Senior Consultant, Government Affairs Dale Morris said American Airlines wants to see its eight-year partnership with Stillwater Regional Airport continue to grow. The airline wants to provide the right services for the passengers and to ensure OSU, the community and businesses continue to flourish, he said.
Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce addressed the project’s significance to the community and its impact on economic development. The new terminal is the product of many years of effort, he said. The larger terminal will allow Stillwater to increase flight operations and continue to grow the region from which travelers flying in and out of Stillwater Regional Airport are drawn.
Having commercial air service in Stillwater has a significant impact on business and on Oklahoma State University for recruiting staff and students. The new terminal will only enhance that impact, Joyce said.
“It’s hard to overstate how big of a game-changer this is for us,” he said. “We’re so excited and so appreciative of all those who have made an effort to make this happen and are continuing the effort.”
ODAA Director Grayson Ardies emphasized the project’s statewide impact. "The groundbreaking of Stillwater Regional Airport’s new terminal is a significant milestone for Oklahoma's aviation and aerospace industry as a whole,” Ardies said. “This 31,000-square-foot facility will not only support the growth of air transportation for Stillwater but also contribute to our statewide efforts to enhance connectivity and foster economic development. By investing in infrastructure like this, we're ensuring that Oklahoma remains at the forefront of aviation innovation, meeting the needs of travelers and businesses alike.”
OSU Senior Vice President of System Affairs Kyle Wray said Stillwater Regional Airport is critical not just for OSU’s fast-growing aviation program, but for accessibility for the university as it continues to grow and for OSU athletics.
Congressman Frank Lucas also touched on the connection between Stillwater Regional Airport and Oklahoma State University. The university, community and state will all benefit from continued growth and development of the airport, he said.
“Let us not forget, this is a continuing process to expand the potential of this community and of our comprehensive university,” Lucas said. “It’s not just the access to the world that our athletic department needs; it’s the access to the world that our research department needs. It’s the ability of people to come to Stillwater easily, conveniently and quickly to do their business.”
Funding for the $27 million project is provided from partners including the Federal Aviation Administration, the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics, and the City of Stillwater.
Stillwater Regional Airport is one of only four airports in the state to offer scheduled commercial passenger air service. The new terminal replaces a building constructed in 1952 that was retrofitted for the launch of commercial air service in 2016.
Offering modern facilities with concession space and two gates, the new terminal will serve Stillwater and the surrounding region for decades to come.
“The (new) terminal was beautifully and mindfully designed with both aviation and local Stillwater influences included from the McFarland Architects team,” Reed said.
Phase I of the project consists of the new terminal building, parking lot, and a 4-lane drop off. Further roadway improvements will be in Phase II. Completion of the terminal is expected in August 2026.
|
Left to right: Pistol Pete; American Airlines Senior Consultant, Government Affairs Dale Morris; Stillwater Regional Airport Director Kellie Reed; Congressman Frank Lucas; Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce; Oklahoma State University Senior Vice President of System Affairs Kyle Wray; Stillwater Vice Mayor Amy Dzialowski; Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics Executive Director Grayson Ardies; and Payne County Commissioner Zach Cavett. |
Additional event pictures are available at: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBKSA9.
Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics Celebrates Record Attendance, Future of Flight at Ninth Annual Women in Aviation and Aerospace Day
By Melissa Fuller
Hosted by aviation services provider AAR Corporation in partnership with JE Dunn Construction, and the Oklahoma City Airport Trust, the event was facilitated by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) and the Oklahoma Aerospace Foundation.
The gathering, held in AAR’s new 70,000 square-foot Hangar 4 on the OKC Will Rogers International Airport campus, provided valuable networking opportunities for students and professionals. Attendees also got a first-hand look at AAR’s new maintenance facility expected to become operational in early 2026.
Grayson Ardies, ODAA executive director, emphasized the need to promote careers in aviation and aerospace among Oklahoma women to close the workforce gap and continue industry growth in the state.
“Oklahoma’s $44 billion aerospace sector is booming, but our continued growth trends depend on a strong talent pipeline,” said Ardies. “We have high-demand, high-wage jobs waiting to be filled right now. Events like these are crucial for connecting thousands of talented women with these critical career pathways, directly addressing the workforce needs that will keep our state’s economy on an upward trajectory and make this our number one economic driver.”
An overarching theme for OKWIAAD included the need for strategic partnerships to drive long-term success within Oklahoma’s second largest industry. During their remarks, both Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell and Senator Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, emphasized the importance of cultivating opportunities for the aviation industry’s future workers, focusing on the value from the growing representation of women in the aerospace industry.
Additionally, keynote speaker and international aviation leader Amelia Rose Earhart stressed not only the importance of partnerships but in taking the lead with her message focusing on “being a tailwind.” Earhart, who notably recreated the flight of her namesake, Amelia Mary Earhart, around the world, pushed the need for people to advance and progress toward reaching their goals despite inevitable turbulence.
The event featured women from all over the aerospace industry including celebrity emcee Dawn MK Zoldi (Colonel, USAF, retired), CEO and founder of P3 Tech Consulting. In partnership with Rose State College, Zoldi also spoke to future aviation professionals as part of a student experience that hosted more than 500 high schoolers from around Oklahoma. Local microjet pilot Justin Lewis also addressed students as part of the experience. Both highlighted the importance of being open to new opportunities and embracing change.
In line with the event’s theme “Celebrating the Grit and Grace of the Golden Age of Aviation,” the day included the announcement of ODAA’s 2025 Woman of the Year — Amelia Earhart. Earhart was a pioneering American aviator, author, and women's rights advocate who broke numerous flight records—including being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean—before disappearing in 1937 during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Additionally, Earhart served as the first president of the Ninety-Nines, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women pilots. Current Ninety-Nines president Robin Hadfield accepted the award on behalf of Earhart and the international organization. A reception was also held in partnership with the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association to welcome attendees to the Ninety-Nines museum prior to the event.
The OKWIAAD was originally created, in part, to honor the legacy of Chickasaw aviator Eula “Pearl” Carter Scott, who was the youngest pilot in the nation in 1929. In observation of Scott’s trailblazing spirit, the ODAA recognized two women for their contributions to Oklahoma aviation. The 2025 Pearl of the Year award was presented to Kristy Slater, Wiley Post Airport general aviation manager and Alexis Higgins, Tulsa International Airport CEO who were each instrumental in the creation and growth of OKWIAAD.
Finally, the event concluded with awards presented to three Oklahoma women who have made important contributions to the state’s aerospace industry.
- Pearl Carter Scott Oklahoma General Aviation Distinguished Service Award
Brandi Rector, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and accomplished helicopter pilot, co-founded Semper Fly Helicopters, a Norman-based Part 141 flight school and Authorized Bell Training Center known for safety and quality. - Dr. Shannon Lucid Aerospace Industry Service Award
Leshia Pearson, Aerospace Commerce Economic Services (ACES) director, has helped to lead Oklahoma’s second-largest industry grow to make a $4 billion economic impact and employee more than 120,000 Oklahomans. - Geraldyn M. Cobb Oklahoma Military Aviation Distinguished Service Award
Izzy Kearney, director of Operations for an Air Force Reserve Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and pilot, also serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the 99s Museum of Women Pilots
The event was a collaborative effort with partners across the state including AAR Corporation, Acorn Capital Management, American Airlines, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Ardmore Development Authority, ASAP Energy Aviation Fuels, Atlantic Aviation, Oklahoma CareerTech, The Chickasaw Nation, Critical Components Aerospace, Consolidated Turbine Specialists, LLC/Kratos, Delta Airport Consultants, Inc., DroneSports, Garver, HNTB, OKC Innovation District, JE Dunn Construction, Jones PR, Knowmadics, Kratos Defense Oklahoma City, KSA, Lochner, Lufthansa Technik, M1 Composites Technology Inc., Mint Turbines LLC, NORDAM, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Oklahoma Aerospace Foundation, Oklahoma Airport Operators Association, Oklahoma City Airport Trust, Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics, Oklahoma ACES, Oklahoma Defense Industry Association, Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, Olsson, Omada International-OKC Division, Parkhill, RealClean Aircraft Detailing, Rose State College, Semper Fly Helicopters, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Spirit Aerosystems, Sundance Airport, Tinker Federal Credit Union, Tulsa International Airport, University of Oklahoma OADII, and University of Oklahoma Gene Rainbolt Graduate School of Business.
For more information on Oklahoma’s aerospace industry as well as future events, visit Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics website at www.oklahoma.gov/aerospace.
