KSOP director named NC airport professional of the year

For more than 60 years, Ron Maness has known nothing but the business of flying.

And now he has been awarded the Willard G. Plentl, Jr. Award as Airport Professional of the Year for 2023 from the North Carolina Airports Association (NCAA).

The award honors outstanding professionals in the aviation industry, according to John Ferguson, NCAA president.

“Ron Maness has come full circle: He started flying at the Moore County Airport when he was young and is back on his fourth rotation as airport director today. I congratulate him on earning this award and salute him for the many years of service that he has given to our aviation profession.”

Maness graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the Air Force ROTC. He completed the Air Force pilot training and was ranked as the number two pilot in flight school. From his days flying an F-106 against the Top Gun teams at Miramar, California, to wearing his Captain’s rank as an eventual member of the Air Force Thunderbirds, Maness always maintained his motto to “just fly the plane.”

After 12 years in the Air Force, Maness flew for Eastern Airlines and USAir. Maness retired from USAir’s training and standards division the first time in 2004.

Moore County was fortunate to get Maness to manage the operations at KSOP, which is next to the Pinehurst Resort, for the 2005 U.S. Open Golf Championship, along with coordinating operations for the mobile FAA control tower, negotiating the return of Delta regional jet services, and developing promotions for the Cessna Fly and Drive events at the airport in Pinehurst/Southern Pines, North Carolina.

In the 16 years since Ron first came in as Moore County Airport Director, he “un-retired” from USAir to assist with the Embraer test and delivery flights and to also conduct training through the FAA.

In three subsequent stints with the local airport, Ron has been involved with an FAA safe-zone traffic circle, led a Community Gateway at the airport for the 2014 U.S. Men’s and Women’s Open Championships, worked to extend the runway and increase hangar space, and worked to enhance new ramp and runway lighting. He oversees the management of 18 staff members and has increased customer service for the base customers, as well as visitors.

According to NCAA officials, Maness was clearly surprised to win the award. His nomination by the chairman of the Airport Authority was kept under wraps.

“I took my first flight at this airport, and it is clear that I have a special place in my heart for this Moore County Airport, since I’ve answered their call four different times to serve as the director,” he said. “There are so many exciting things going on here, and I have such a wonderful staff. The pride and gratification I have in being the manager of this airport cannot be put into words. This honor is one of the highlights of my aviation career.”

Mike Jones, chairman of the Moore County Airport Authority, had nothing but good things to say about Maness in nominating him for this award.

“I think we could have searched every airport in the country and never found a more qualified, more energetic, or more dedicated candidate (for airport director) that Ron Maness,” enthused Jones. “Ron’s knowledge about aviation and the depth of his concern for this airport cannot be overstated because the thing that makes Ron so valuable and so unique is his natural talent for leadership. He inspires the whole airport team, and when you work with Ron, you simply want to do your best.”

According to NCAA officials, the award was established in the memory of Willard G. Plentl, Jr., who contributed more than 50 years of professional service to aviation in North Carolina. As the director of aviation for the state of North Carolina, he was a founding member of the North Carolina Airport Managers Association, the predecessor to the NCAA. The inaugural award was presented in 2020.