2025 Airport Business Top 40 Under 40: Caleb R. Coltrane, PE

• Hometown: Garnett, KS
• Alma Mater: Kansas State University
• How many years have you been in aviation? 16 

Caleb Coltrane, PE, has spent more than 15 years shaping the future of aviation infrastructure across Kansas and beyond. Since joining Garver in 2009, he has partnered with 62 airports in eight states, delivering engineering solutions that not only support facilities but drive economic growth. In 2017, Garver tapped Coltrane to launch a Wichita office, and under his leadership, the team has grown to 65 employees and become a centerpiece of the region’s aviation practice. Today, he serves as Kansas Aviation Leader and Senior Project Manager, guiding projects that range from statewide pavement inspections to multimillion-dollar hangar developments.

Coltrane’s ability to combine technical skill with relationship-building has been instrumental in Garver’s success. He has led high-profile projects such as the General Aviation Reconstruction at Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and a statewide facilities assessment that secured a funding increase for Kansas airport infrastructure from $5 million to $15 million annually. His efforts have grown Garver’s aviation portfolio fivefold, with contracts now spanning 13 Engineer-of-Record clients and a diverse mix of airports, agencies, and private developers.

Mentorship and knowledge-sharing are central to his leadership. Coltrane created Garver’s internal aviation training program, which continues to support more than 90 engineers nationwide. He also speaks frequently at technical conferences and volunteers in his community, introducing students to engineering through hands-on programs. “What excites me most is taking time-tested engineering principles and applying them in fresh, innovative ways to keep the industry moving forward,” he says.

Through his vision and service, Coltrane is strengthening Kansas’s aviation system while mentoring the next generation of engineers who will carry it into the future.