Margaret “Meg” Lonero was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1938. She moved to the Houston area in 1965 with her husband and son and began her aviation career. She earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and later earned her pilot’s license and held a seaplane rating for many years.
In the mid 1970s she became a founding partner of Clear Lake Aviation, a Houston area aviation and flight training operation. She later sold that business, became an Accredited Airport Executive and built a 21-year career with Houston Airport System, the aviation department of the City of Houston.
Serving in management roles at all three airports, Lonero served in Airport Operations and as Manager at William P. Hobby Airport where she directed a $227 million modernization program, construction of a new central concourse, improved instrument landing capability, and coordinated federal security operations during major city events and governmental visits. She was also manager at Ellington Field and assistant manager at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. She retired in 2005 and died in 2015.
Recognized for her mentorship of college aviation students, in 2006 Lonero received the Bessie Coleman Woman of the Year Award.
