Ellington was a temporary resting place and the site of a private memorial for the President en route to and from the public viewing on the Rotunda in Washington, D.C.
Since assuming General Manager duties at Ellington Airport (Ellington) in December 2014, Arturo Machuca has participated in several pivotal events. He has led the effort in the creation of the Houston Spaceport and helped coordinate the cleanup in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. He has enjoyed the annual inspiration of the Wings Over Houston airshow and participated in Ellington’s 100th anniversary celebration in 2017. He has thoroughly enjoyed the day-to-day work alongside NASA as well as the five military branches.
As he reflected on the past four years, Machuca said that he was especially honored in the past two weeks as Ellington was involved in Special Air Mission 41, the final flights of late former president George H.W. Bush on Air Force One. President Bush died in Houston on Nov. 30 at age 94. Ellington was a temporary resting place and the site of a private memorial for the President en route to and from the public viewing on the Rotunda in Washington, D.C. December 3-5.
Machuca said the planning for the President’s transport was meticulous and detailed, and the proceedings and coordination went very smoothly for all parties involved. “We assisted the Secret Service and our military tenants in making the stays of the President’s family, friends, and others as comfortable as possible.”
He commended Maintenance and Operations for working seamlessly alongside Secret Service, a large contingent from the Houston Police Department, military partners at Ellington, and other groups.
The private ceremony at Ellington for the late president included family, invited friends, and some members of the press. “It was a truly great event,” he said, “with the President receiving a 21-gun salute and a stirring and sober National Anthem being played as well.”
Ellington is a “natural” fit for Presidents, with representation from each major military branch present at the Airport, including the U.S. Army’s 147th Reconnaissance Wing. “President Trump has been here multiple times,” Machuca said, “and we are fully capable of handling Air Force One, as was proven once more.”
“We are grateful we were able to be a small part of honoring President Bush,” he said.
President Bush’s life was exemplified by public service, including stints as U.N. ambassador and CIA Director. He served as Vice President under the two terms of President Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) before himself ascending to the highest office in the land, serving as President from 1989-1993.
“Ellington is a facility that has important, multiple facets, ” Machuca said, “and we were genuinely pleased to honor the memory and legacy of President Bush. His was an extraordinary life."