Dawson L. Frank A.A.E., ACE
Age: 30
Airport Emergency Manager
San Antonio Airport System
- Alma Mater: Purdue University
- Something people may not know about me: I'm an avid gardener
- Favorite Book: The Old Man and the Boy
- Favorite TV Show: How It's Made
- Favorite Movie: Die Hard
- Favorite Hobby(s): Gardening, fishing, hiking and being outdoors
When Dawson Frank was in college, he started out working on a business degree when one summer he got an internship at Kansas City International Airport (MCI). After a few weeks riding around with staff and learning about airport operations, his future was set.
Dawson went back to school and changed his major to airport administration and started a new career path.
“I love my job. I love emergency management and airport operations,” he said. “It gives me a deep sense of accomplishment to work with our staff and our stakeholders to help the airport be prepared.”
Frank joined the San Antonio Airport System as an airport operations supervisor in 2011 before becoming San Antonio International Airport’s (SAT) airport emergency manger. SAT executives have tapped him twice to serve in needed interim roles including airport security manager.
Frank is helping establish a new division dedicated to strengthening and streamlining the organization’s emergency preparedness and is responsible for the development, documentation, coordination and implementation of procedures, trainings and stakeholder communications related to emergency management.
Frank oversaw SAT’s full scale emergency exercise in late 2014. With a focus on assistance of victims during an aircraft accident and assistance to friends and family, Frank is coordinating the large-scale exercises with a substantial coalition of partner agencies and appropriate community and federal industry entities including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), county medical examiner, Southwest Texas Advisory Council, airlines and American Red Cross.
The lifelong Boy Scout earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2004 and has several industry accreditations that include A.A.E. and A.C.E. certification.
