Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to leadership excellence and continued growth in the aviation sector, Hillwood has promoted longtime aviation executive Christopher Ash to president of the Alliance Aviation Companies at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport. Ash officially assumed the role on July 1, 2025, and will oversee all operations at Perot Field, including management of the airport, fixed-base operations (FBO) and commercial fueling services, while advancing the airport’s position as one of the top 20 cargo hubs in the United States.
Ash joined Hillwood in 1996 as a line operations specialist and has held a variety of leadership roles over the years. Most recently, as senior vice president of aviation business development, he was instrumental in expanding Hillwood’s military, corporate, aerospace and real estate partnerships throughout AllianceTexas — the company’s 27,000-acre, master-planned, mixed-use development. His efforts were key in attracting major industry leaders such as MTU Maintenance and Embraer to Perot Field, both of which announced major expansions during the same week Texas Governor Greg Abbott named Fort Worth the aviation and defense capital of Texas.
“Chris has made significant contributions across every aspect of our aviation operations,” said Bill Burton, executive vice president at Hillwood. “His leadership and commitment to excellence, along with his work to forge meaningful public-private partnerships with government agencies, research institutions and industry leaders, have been central to our success. His experience and vision are invaluable, and with leaders like Chris, the future of the Alliance Aviation Companies is brighter than ever.”
Ash will continue to work in lockstep with the City of Fort Worth and other municipalities in the Alliance corridor, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA and many other institutions, to further advance the aerospace and aviation industry here in North Texas. He also serves on the North Central Texas Council of Governments as a member of the North Texas Safety and Integration Task Force.
Ash has also led advancements in next-generation aviation mobility at the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone (MIZ). This cutting-edge ecosystem integrates logistics infrastructure and strategic partnerships to help mobility innovators test, scale and commercialize transformative technologies.
“I’m incredibly proud to have grown with an organization that is helping define the future of aviation through leadership in aerospace, infrastructure and mobility innovation,” said Ash. “I look forward to continuing to work with our outstanding team to deliver best-in-class service and operations.”
About AllianceTexas
Developed by Hillwood, AllianceTexas is an unparalleled regional success story that has transformed the North Texas economy and connected the area to global industry. Consisting of 27,000 acres, the development is anchored by the world’s first dedicated industrial airport, Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW), and hosts one of the nation’s premier intermodal hubs. Today, AllianceTexas is home to 590 companies that have created more than 66,000 direct jobs and have approximately 60 million square feet of developed commercial real estate assets. The development’s cumulative impact since 1989 is an estimated $130 billion for the North Texas region. For additional information, please visit www.alliancetexas.com.
About Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport
Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW) is the world’s first industrial airport, purpose-built for cargo and corporate aviation. Today, AFW offers a broad range of flight services, including air cargo, corporate, private, and military aviation, and serves as the cornerstone of AllianceTexas, the nation’s premier master-planned, mixed-use development. Owned by the City of Fort Worth and managed by privately held Alliance Air Services, AFW features state-of-the-art infrastructure and an award-winning FAA air traffic control tower. Alliance Air Services is consistently ranked among the top FBOs in the U.S. by industry publications and fuel service providers. For more information, visit www.perotfield.com.