The Williams Trophy was established in 1996 by the Board of Directors of the Washington Airports Task Force. Carrington Williams, for whom the trophy is named and who was the founding chairman of the Washington Airports Task Force from 1982 to 1996, was the first to receive the trophy on June 10, 1996. The Trophy is awarded to recognize those whose "Leadership, Vision and Dedication in the Application of Aviation or Space Enriched the Quality of Life on Earth” and is presented by the Chairman during the Annual General Meeting. The Williams Trophy Selection Committee is appointed annually by the Chairman of the Washington Airports Task Force.
Recent Williams Trophy Recipients
2023 - Doug Parker former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Airlines was honored at the 41st Annual General Meeting, held at the beautiful Historic Terminal, Ronald Reagan National Airport. He was recognized for his life-long career of leadership, vision and dedication to aviation as demonstrated through his 37-year career. This included: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at America West Airlines where he won post 9/11 federal loan guarantees, Chief Executive Officer when America West merged with US Airways in 2005, Chief Executive officer of the world’s largest airline, American Airlines when US Airways and American merged in 2013, working with MWAA to construct a customer-friendly Concourse E, at Reagan National replacing the often derided “Gate 35X.”
2022 – At the 40th Annual General Meeting, the WATF honored Silver Line Metrorail spearheaded by Counties of Fairfax and Loudoun, the Town of Herndon, MWAA and WMAA. Representatives were recognized for their regional cooperation and leadership in fulfilling a 62-year vision of connecting Dulles by rail and road to our region for extending Metrorail service to Dulles and ten other stations in Fairfax and Loudoun counties. Airport passengers and employees now can take rail directly to Dulles from Washington, DC, and other points throughout the region.
2021 – Robert E. Buchanan was honored with this prestigious award at the 39th Annual General Meeting. Mr. Buchanon is the Principal of Buchanan Partners, President of the 2030 Group, and member of the WATF Board of Directors for more than 30 years, for his leadership for regional cooperation in every aspect of our region’s transportation needs, including critical transportation issues that have had a significant impact on ground access to our airports—Reagan National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.
Click here for a full list of recipients of the Williams Trophy
