Earlier this month, Darrell D. Watson was named director of properties for the Louisville Regional Airport Authority. In this role, Watson will have overall responsibility for managing airport property, including airline, other tenant and concession leases, and operating agreements for Louisville International (SDF) and Bowman Field (LOU). He will also be responsible for initiating and implementing programs designed to enhance the airports’ revenue.

Watson is a familiar face at SDF. He returns to Louisville from Warwick, R.I., where he was vice president of commercial programs for the Rhode Island Airport Corp. Prior to moving to Rhode Island, Watson was the properties manager for the Louisville authority.

Watson also previously served in management positions for Interspace Airport Advertising in Allentown, Pa.

“After a national search, it was clear that Watson’s proven experience in property management and intimate knowledge of our operations and community made him the ideal person for this key position at a critical time in the airline industry, ” says Skip Miller, executive director for the Louisville authority.

Watson holds a B.S. degree in Aviation Technology and a masters degree in Aviation Safety from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo.