DAYTON — Now that Iftikhar Ahmad, the city’s aviation director, is leaving Dayton for a similar job in New Orleans, attention is turning to who will replace him.

Ahmad oversaw construction programs for a parking garage, new airport concessions, extension of the terminal building and a remodeling of the ticketing lobby to improve crowd flow. The federal government will put a new Dayton air traffic control tower into operation this summer. The airport administration values the construction projects at $160 million.

Observers credit Ahmad with reviving Dayton International and improving its air service and its amenities, with multimillion-dollar construction programs under way for a parking garage, revamped terminal building and ticketing lobby and, eventually, a new hotel on the airport grounds.

Ahmad also developed an updated airport master plan that proposed setting aside up to 400 acres of the airport’s property for commercial development. He helped fashion a similar proposal for a smaller tract of available land at the city’s other airport, Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport, although that plan was put on hold after only one developer responded.

During his tenure, the airport saw the start of new or additional direct flight service to Toronto, Chicago and Denver, among other destinations.

He also recognized the airport’s contribution to the region’s economic development and worked with others to encourage development, observers said.

The airport’s proximity is key to the city of Vandalia’s efforts to attract new employers, and Ahmad was receptive to officials of neighboring communities, said Rich Hopkins, a spokesman for Vandalia.

“He’s made that job a lot more attractive for the next guy, because of the things he’s put into place and the culture that he’s created out there,” Hopkins said.

Talented airport administrators are available, with up-and-comers waiting in the wings in both large and smaller markets, said spokesman Sean Broderick of the American Association of Airport Executives, a trade organization.

City officials are considering whether to mount a national or regional search for a successor to Ahmad, who is to start May 24 as New Orleans’ aviation director.

Walter J. Krygowski, Dayton’s deputy director of aviation, is to serve as interim director after Ahmad leaves. Ahmad’s last day with Dayton is May 21.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.