David B. Decoteau, A.A.E., C.A.E., ACE
Airport Division Manager
Livermore Airport, city of Livermore
Age: 34
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Alma Mater: University of North Dakota (Undergrad) Western Governors University (Graduate)
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Favorite Aircraft: Antonov AN-225
- Favorite Book: Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain
- Favorite TV Show: Parts Unknown
- Favorite Movie: Airplane!
- Favorite Hobbies: Traveling , flying, spending time with my family.
David Decoteau’s love of aviation started as a child when his father took him to see air shows.
“At 11 years old, my best friend’s father took me flying in a small plane. In high school I joined an aviation program that let you do ground school and get some hours flying,” he said. “I got my pilot’s license at 17, then went to the University of North Dakota’s commercial aviation program.”
After graduating, Decoteau worked as a flight instructor, then did an internship in airport management at Boeing Field. “I stuck with it, and got an MBA from Western Governors University,” he said.
Decoteau worked his way up to airport duty manager at Boeing Field, but moved to Hayward Executive Airport in August 2013 operations manager. “He always went the extra mile to provide a safer and more efficient operating environment,” said his nomination form. “For example, David was responsible for $2 million in grant funding to rehabilitate our main runway in 2016. It was a complex resurfacing project that, in response to input from tenants, was completed in just four days working around the clock.”
He remembers this project. “When I started there, the runway markers were turning yellow because the rock quarry where they came from contained bad iron ore,” Decoteau recalled.
“I determined that we needed to do a full overlay of the runway but we didn’t have the money, plus we had turbine operations that would have been disrupted,” said Decoteau. “Thanks to creative means in finding local, state and federal funding and doing it in a way that had limited impact to our tenants.”
Decoteau, who’s been the airport manager at Livermore Municipal Airport since August 2017, enjoys working with a diverse group of people, including airport workers, the city, pilots, the police and fire departments and the airport’s customer. “No day is ever the same at the airport. There are always new challenges to tackle and goals to meet,” he said.
As for the future of aviation, Decoteau feels what’s most important is nurturing his successors in the industry. “I was the last generation that was able to go to the airport and talk with pilots and see planes up close,” he said. “With current security measures, you can’t do that anymore, so it’s important to find opportunities for kids to experience aviation in their local communities so when we move on, they are there to take over.”
