Jeff Booton, senior director of maintenance for the Denver International Airport, was named the 2018 Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year. He was awarded at the 2018 Government Fleet Expo & Conference on June 5 during the Honors Celebration.

Bick Pratt, head of fleet government sales and operations for FCA, presented the award to Booton.

"This is all about the team that make it happen day to day, the team at Denver International Airport," Booton said in his acceptance speech. "They all do a terrific job, and they really take ownership of our operation. They're always looking to continuously improve and somehow they always find a way to make that happen. As a leader you can't ask for anything more than that."

Booton also noted that all three of tonight's finalists — Booton, Long Beach's Dan Berlenbach, and Washington County's Tom Keyser — served in the military, and recognized other veterans who have gone on to manage fleets in the public sector, including Denver's Todd Richardson, Tampa's Connie White-Arnold, and Cobb County's Al Curtis.

A panel of judges consisting of fleet managers from around the country reviewed each candidate in 10 categories: business plan, technology implementation, productivity, policies, preventive maintenance program, utilization management, replacement program, customer service, fuel management, and safety. Booton was chosen among three finalists for the award.

As senior director of maintenance, Booton manages 616 on-road vehicles and 342 off-road vehicles. The Denver International Airport fleet has an annual operating budget of $10.4 million.

This year, the Denver International Airport fleet team brought several long-term projects to fruition. The team computerized workflow processes, collaborated with other local fleets to align technician classifications across the city, and increased its emphasis on training.

Related: Q&A: Fleet Manager of the Year Finalists