As the chairman of Chicago Executive Airport — formerly known as Palwaukee — Court Harris has worked with his board members and staff to upgrade the infrastructure of the landing fields, its hangars and all of the facilities associated with it. And they’re not done yet. They’re constantly planning for the future.
State Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl presents Court Harris with a plaque recognizing his service.
“I have a dream that it’s 2032. The Bears have moved to Arlington Heights and are playing the Green Bay Packers for a Sunday night game,” Harris says. “There’s a group of Packers fans that charter a flight down to Chicagoland. They land at Chicago Executive, taxi across the field, and then get into an eVTOL aircraft — that uses electric power to take off and land, much like a helicopter — that whisks them away.
“They watch the game and then take an eVTOL back to Chicago Executive and fly back to Green Bay,” he adds. “That’s not pie in the sky stuff — the work is being done now for that to happen in the near future. It’s like the Jetsons — only real.”
Court Harris has led the Chicago Executive Airport through two terms, or the last eight years, as its chairman of the board — and all this before turning 40.
His term ends at the end of the month and officials credit his leadership with steering the airport through a period of growth, modernization and deepened community engagement with Prospect Heights and Wheeling. They posted a tribute to Harris and all of his accomplishments on the airport’s website, titling it: “A Legacy of Service and Stewardship.”
Wheeling High School students, interested in aviation, tour a hangar.
In the tribute, they credit Harris’ community roots — he grew up in Arlington Heights and attended Saint Viator High School — and his military service. Harris graduated in 2007 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, before serving the next five years in Afghanistan.
While there, he was charged with ensuring logistical support across Central Asia and managing airbase logistics during Operation Enduring Freedom.
“When the opportunity at Chicago Executive came up, it was something that immediately was appealing to me,” he says. “It was a perfect overlap of municipal-focused — being owned by Prospect Heights and Wheeling — and taking advantage of some of my skills and experience from the military, specifically from an aviation standpoint.”
Airport leaders credit Harris with bringing the “transformative” Sky Harbour development to the airport. This ongoing project includes more than 300,000 square feet of development and the acquisition of the former Ramada Inn.
More than 1,000 runners competed in the Run the Runway event in June.
The airport also built a $3 million standalone U.S. Customs facility at the south end of the airfield to clear incoming aircraft and passengers, increasing the airport’s appeal for international travelers.
As a community leader, Harris is especially proud of growing Run the Runway, an annual 5K that has grown to attract more than 1,000 participants, who literally run the airport’s runways. It has become a signature community event, and reflects the airport’s partnership with local business chambers.
That’s not all. Over the last few months Harris has worked with Executive Director Jeff Miller and the airport’s board to plan a new airport headquarters and community center. Its goals will be to provide space and opportunities for students, aviation education, workforce development and civic groups, for starters.
Prospect Heights Fire Chief Drew Smith has observed the changes, in providing fire and emergency services to the airport, along with Wheeling’s fire department. Smith says that while the footprint of the airport has not grown, its infrastructure has.
Wheeling High School students view an aircraft landing.
“The creation of modern aviation facilities such as hangers that are privately operated and airfield improvements managed by the airport staff, make Chicago Executive Airport an attractive destination for both aviation enthusiasts and business aviation operations,” Smith says.
“When runway expansion was proposed several years ago as part of a master planning process,” he adds, “the airport board listened to the public who did not want it and they withdrew it from further consideration. To me, that demonstrated being a good neighbor.”
Not surprisingly, Harris deflects any personal recognition, instead crediting the collaboration between his board members and relationships with elected officials in both Prospect Heights and Wheeling.
“Without a doubt, the support from the board and support from elected bodies really is the success of the organization,” he said. “The community’s interaction and the leadership of the Airport is better now than I’ve ever seen it and they deserve a ton of credit.”
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