BULLHEAD CITY — Airport Business Magazine named Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport Assistant Director Guillio Minguillo as one of “the best and brightest among aviation’s up-and-comers.”
In a recent edition, Minguillo was listed among Airport Business Magazine’s third annual “Top Forty Under 40” profile of aviation leaders.
Minguillo, 37, joined the airport last year, succeeding Jeremy Keating, who was promoted to airport director following the retirement of David Gaines. His recognition by the most widely circulated publication for professionals who manage airports was noted during Tuesday’s quarterly meeting of the Mohave County Airport Authority.
In a profile titled “Leading the way in the aviation career race,” Airport Business Magazine likened Minguillo’s 14-year career progression to his days as a track and field champion, going “from one finish line to the next in a race he clearly appears to be winning.”
As Keating’s deputy, Minguillo supervises and directs airport administrative staff, the airport’s rescue and firefighting personnel, maintenance crews and serves as the back-up airport security coordinator.
“The magazine pointed out that these people are extremely important to our industry,” noted MCAA president John Hastings. “Neither the aviation industry nor our airport can exist without bright young people such as Guillio.”
Minguillo earned a bachelor’s degree in aviation administration from Indiana State University and almost immediately was an operations supervisor at Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport in Connecticut. He spent most of the next nine years at one of the country’s busiest general aviation airports, Teterboro (N.J.) Airport, rising to assistant manager of airport operations before accepting his new role at Laughlin/Bullhead International. He is a licensed pilot who holds instrument and commercial ratings.
Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport was the 2011 Arizona Airport of the year. Daily commercial service from more than 100 cities in the U.S. and Canada is operated by Sun Country Airlines with Boeing 737s and Republic Airways with Embraer 190s as charter flights for the Riverside Resort and Harrah’s Laughlin. Negotiations continue with major and regional airlines to resume traditional scheduled flights.
Additionally, the airport is the main base for Tri-State Care Flight, a helicopter and fixed-wing air ambulance company. Fixed base operations for general aviation, business aircraft, military and commercial flights are provided by Landmark Aviation.