2012 Top 40: Paul Cristina

Aug. 21, 2012

Paul Cristina

Aviation Practice Leader; Project Manager

Kimley-Horn and Associates

Date of Birth: 10-6-79

Years in Aviation: 11

Paul Cristina, P.E., began his aviation career after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy as a commissioned officer with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. He also holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Florida State University. 

Cristina served for six years in Civil Engineering Squadrons at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida and Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. In these assignments, he provided base planning and engineering expertise for major design and construction programs including new mission beddown of the F-22 Raptor and comprehensive, large-scale airfield improvements. He also served as an Executive Officer for senior command staff. 

In 2005, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a member of an Air Force heavy construction unit that provided force protection, beddown, and airfield improvement support at coalition bases across northern Iraq.  Cristina joined Kimley-Horn’s aviation practice following his Air Force service and currently serves as the firm’s Aviation Practice Leader in the State of Texas. 

In this role, Cristina engages client airports to understand their goals, objectives, and infrastructure requirements, then builds and leads multidisciplinary project teams to meet those needs. He provides direct client service as project manager and engineer-of-record on a variety of general aviation and commercial service airport projects. These projects include airport master planning, airfield pavement design, landside facilities and infrastructure, and construction administration services. He is also responsible for maintaining appropriate staffing levels to support project requirements and managing project financial performance.