The Charlotte County Airport Authority announces that Raymond A. Laroche, A.A.E has been promoted to director of Operations & Maintenance at Punta Gorda Airport (PGD). He will continue to oversee security, safety, and maintenance and will now oversee the airside and landside operations departments as well.
Laroche, who had served as the manager of Facilities and Security at PGD for five years, recently earned the distinction of Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). Laroche will continue to report to COO Gary Duncan, C.M.
Laroche has an associates degree in Counter Terrorism Studies as well as a Bachelor’s in Emergency and Disaster Management, both from American Public University where he is currently working towards a Master's in Legal Studies. Laroche is a veteran of the United States Army, where he volunteered for the Army Airborne program and was assigned the 82nd Airborne Division 3rd Brigade 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. After his service in the Army, Laroche joined the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in 2003 during the initial roll-out and found himself drawn to security in aviation.
Laroche became a screening manager with TSA for the first decade of the agency’s existence, and worked at Burlington International Airport, Southwest Florida International Airport and Punta Gorda Airport. Laroche was honored as one of Airport Business Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2014. Laroche is celebrating his eighth year of employment at PGD and is active in the local community through Leadership Charlotte and various aviation-industry groups such as AAAE, ACI-NA and Florida Airports Council.
