The Armbrust Aviation Group (AAG) has named Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International's Director of Operations, Paul S. Meyer, as its Best Operations Manager of the Year. The selection of Mr. Meyer for this prestigious award was due to his successes in a number of key areas including running the world's busiest airport while excelling in areas of leadership and innovation; promoting airport safety with an emphasis on training; and supporting charitable works.

AAG solicited airport staff to nominate airport operations managers for the Best Airport Operations Manager of the Year. This is AAG's first operations award and follows in the tradition of other prestigious awards bestowed by the company including from Airport Revenue News (ARN), Best Airport Director of the Year and various Best Airport Concessions awards. Also, each year AAG awards its Airport Safety Award, Best Airport Operator, as well as, Best Airline Fuel Department and Best Aviation Fuel Marketer. The Airport Operations Manager of the Year and all other awards will be presented at the AAG Award Dinners on February 21, 2006, the closing event for the 8th annual AAG International Airport Operations Conference and Exhibition being held at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.

John H. Armbrust, President of AAG highlights Myer's numerous safety initiatives. 'The complexity of ensuring the safety of 2,600 aircraft movements each day with 85 million passengers passing through the airport can not be understated. Whether inside or outside of the terminal, Paul Meyer's dedication to creating an efficient operating environment while improving safety is clearly evident.'

His achievements include assuming operations and management of the airport's South Cargo Facility creating a safer more customer oriented operation at a significant cost savings to the airport. Inside the terminal, operations personnel worked during the midnight hours to avoid interfering with passenger flows to replace 140 automated external defibrillators. Always trying to remain prepared for any eventuality, Meyer, worked with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Georgia Division of Public Health and was one of the key authors of the airport Communicable Disease Response Plan. The plan was written in response to the growing threat of a communicable disease such as Smallpox or Avian Bird Flu entering the U.S. arriving on international flights. According to his staff, Mr. Meyer empowers others and recognizes their hard work while encouraging team work.

A Lieutenant Colonel in the US Air Force Reserve, Paul Meyer provided en-route support for C-17 aircraft supporting humanitarian missions in hurricane ravaged areas and supported Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staging efforts at Dobbins Air Reserve Base.

Mr. Meyer will be featured on the front cover of the inaugural issue of AirOps, a magazine dedicated to covering the airport operations world and will be presented a hand-engraved crystal trophy at AAG's Award Dinner in Las Vegas.