When Angela Gittens stepped onto the stage at the San Francisco Aeronautical
Society’s (SFAS) Annual Gala Dinner, the crowd rose with warmth and excitement. The
applause wasn’t just for her extraordinary career — it was for her homecoming, to the
very airport where it all began.

“Angela began her aviation career at SFO in 1983 and went on to lead two major U.S.
airports and serve as Director General of Airports Council International,” said John L.
Martin, President of the Aeronautical Society Board. “Her leadership helped shape the
future of global air travel, with lasting impact on safety, service, and professional
development across the industry.”

The Society’s 2025 Annual Achievement in Aviation Award celebrated Gittens’s lifetime
of leadership, mentorship, and trailblazing achievements in airport management.

“A Dazzling Business of Aviation”

Accepting the award beneath the gleaming art deco arches of the Louis A. Turpen
Aviation Museum, Gittens was both gracious and funny. “It’s been an honor and a
pleasure to serve on the San Francisco Aeronautical Society Board,” she said with a
grin. “But I assure you, I had no hand in deciding to give me this award!”

She dedicated the honor to her mentor and the museum’s namesake, Louis A. Turpen,
who “brought me into this dazzling business of aviation and mentored me into positions
and success beyond my tenure at SFO.”

Then came one of the night’s most memorable moments — a “Turpenism” that drew
laughter across the room. “Sometimes one has to be stealthy. They’ll never know what
happened until the rabbit dies,” she recalled. “It taught me you can’t always drive
straight to the goal — but you must stay focused on it.”

Leading With Purpose

From her start at SFO to leading airports in Atlanta and Miami, and then
guiding Airports Council International, Gittens’ impact has stretched across continents.
“It takes every sector within the aviation ecosystem to get results,” she said. “People
dedicated to ensuring that the world’s communities reap the benefits that aviation
brings.”

Martin reflected on what makes her leadership unique. “Angela has an extraordinary
ability to bring people together — from regulators to airport teams to international
leaders — and help them find shared purpose,” he said. “She reminds us that aviation
is, at its heart, about connection.”

The Values That Lift Us

To close her speech, Gittens turned personal. “My parents instilled in me a strong sense
of integrity — work hard, do a good job, and be kind,” she said. Now aged 107 and 108,
and recently recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest-married couple in
the world, she smiled and added, “Doesn’t hurt to have good genes!”

Martin summed up what many in the room felt.  “Angela embodies the very best of what
this award represents,” he said. “Her career reflects not only professional excellence,
but the courage, generosity, and mentorship that lifts others. She’s an inspiration to all
of us — and especially here at SFO, where her journey first took flight.”

Congratulations Angela Gittens!

 

By Vanessa Guerra on behalf of the SFAS