Please welcome Rafael Garza, the new Airport Manager for Dallas Executive Airport!

Rafael H. Garza Jr. is a retired Air Force officer with 32 years of honorable military and civil service experience and retired at the rank of Major.  He has led in bases around the world including in the Middle East and Latin America. He has a wide range of experience in aircrew operations, airfield and air traffic control management, workforce training and development, international affairs, programming, planning and budget execution, water utilities operations management, and city administration.

Rafael is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School, with a M.A. in Regional Security Studies (western Hemisphere), and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a B.S. in Workforce Education Training and Development.  Rafael and his wife Mary moved to Irving from Eagle Pass, Texas to be closer to their grandchildren.

We spoke with Rafael about his past experiences and what he looks forward to with the Department of Aviation.

What drew you to aviation?

I’ve been interested in airplanes since I can remember.  This is why I enlisted in the Air Force as aircraft Loadmaster (C-141-B Star Lifter and C-17 Globe Master III).  As an enlisted airman, this was the closest I could be to aircraft operations.  I later commissioned as an airfield operations officer where I was introduced to airfield management and air traffic control, and this became my industry for over 14 years.  I love the high tempo of the airfield environment.  All the coordination and precision work behind the scenes, just to launch and recover aircraft safely, is amazing…in aviation, no single day, hour, or minute is the same.

What are you most excited about in this new position?

Having the opportunity to be an integral part of the City’s award-winning aviation team and to work on the continuous improvement of the Dallas Executive Airport and the Aviation department to foster economic growth opportunities for our Dallas community.

What’s one thing you learned being in the military?

People are the most important asset—can’t accomplish the mission without the people.

What was the last book you read? 

 Blunder —by Zachary Shore

Where is the most interesting place you’ve traveled to?

East Berlin—crossing Check Point Charlie before the wall was demolished. 

How will your degree in Workforce Education Training & Development help you in this position?

I believe training is at the hearth of almost everything we do.  Operations, safety, human resources, culture, addressing new challenges, and establishing new processes and technologies.  Understanding the importance of training will help identify skill-gaps and promote a skilled workforce that can meet current and future challenges.

Do you have any hobbies or extracurricular interests?

I like to play racquetball, a bit of golf, music and travel to visit family

What do you enjoy doing with your grandkids now that you are physically closer? 

I love to participate in their life activities, school events, extracurricular activities—like sports and arts.  My goal is to build with them the most important inheritance—memories.