Adam Bouchard, CM, FRAeS, Senior Vice President and Deputy Chief Operating Officer at the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority and a judge of the Aviation Industry Awards for the past three years, has spoken of the quality of this year's entries as the shortlist awaits its December gala.

Reflecting on the judging process, Bouchard said it remains a privilege to serve, and that each year brings fresh insight. "Every year, I learn something new and see the work that incredibly talented people are doing," he said.

For Bouchard, the entries do more than showcase success. “Reading about successes and hard work here sparks new ideas and creative thinking on our part to be fast followers of the great work happening here. The quality of the individuals, the passion of the people, and the ingenuity and ideas that are being brought forth to better our industry is extremely impressive,” he added.

Speaking from his position at a major US airport, Bouchard highlighted Ireland’s standing on the world stage. “Ireland’s role and reputation in international aviation can’t be understated,” he said, pointing to the number of aircraft operating in the US that are leased through Irish-based companies. He added that “Ireland is an incredible gateway to a beautiful country and a stepping stone to the world,” noting the unique convenience of US pre-clearance in Dublin.

On airport growth, Bouchard said lessons flow both ways. “I think US airports can actually learn a tremendous amount from Europe and how airports like Dublin are able to handle and move so many passengers so well within facilities that were not necessarily intended to handle the volume that they see today,” he said. “Learning and sharing best practices with one another is crucial to bettering our airports and the aviation ecosystem.”

Turning to technology, he cautioned that innovation must not come at the expense of people. “Travelers will still very much long for a personal connection with a human being in many points along their journey,” he said, adding that the industry “needs to be mindful of the human element that must be maintained.”

On transatlantic connectivity, Bouchard welcomed the growth in nonstop routes between Ireland and the US. “As more dots end up on the map, connecting North America with Ireland, I hope the trend of Americans exploring and learning not only the incredible history of Ireland, but the importance of Ireland to the history of the United States will only continue to grow,” he said.

Bouchard joins an independent panel drawn from academia and industry, including representatives from ACI EUROPE, KPMG, Enterprise Ireland, the University of Limerick and Dublin City University.

Winners will be announced at the black-tie gala on Thursday, 3 December at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry.

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