Building the future of Aviation Development

At CARDON-SHAFFER, we are a team of nationally-recognized leaders with proven expertise in the comprehensive development of aviation and economic development centers. We strategically design aviation-based master plans, which not only advance the aviation related objectives but also serve as major economic drivers for municipalities, regions, states, and the military.

In doing this, we leverage our unique global economic and commercial backgrounds, as well as emerging technologies such as AI and cyber-based systems in our projects, making Cardon-Shaffer truly unique within our industry. Our team is dedicated to strategically and comprehensively designing, financing and constructing the most innovative aviation-related projects in the nation. Having led some of the most influential agencies in the U.S., our proven backgrounds and expertise as well as strategic P3 approach sets us apart. We are committed to delivering exceptional results for our partners and clients.

Meet the Leadership

As the heart and soul of Cardon-Shaffer, our team members combine 100+ years of market experience, innovation, and creativity which results in world-class projects that have changed the face of communities and cities alike.

  • Don Cardon

    FOUNDER / CHAIRMAN

    As CEO and Chairman, Don Cardon drives a level of innovation within both the public sector and private sector few have accomplished. Known for his unique approach and innovation, Don has leveraged these abilities to deliver some of the largestP3 ‘expressions’ in our nation – both in the public sector and the private sector. Having led the creation and establishment of the Arizona Commerce Authority, the creation of the $1.2BB CityScape project in the heart of downtown Phoenix, and the development of the first FAA endorsed International Airport in the United States in over two decades, Don’s history of fulfilling scaled visions sets him apart.

    However, Don and the team’s greatest skill is the ability to create the ‘TEAMs and Systems’ necessary to achieve critical mass, overcome substantial political hurdles, assure the outcomes are economically viable, and literally change the face of entire communities at the local, state, and national levels.

  • KIRK SHAFFER

    PRINCIPAL

    Kirk has been intimately involved in the construction of three air carrier runways and a 44-gate passenger terminal and the environmental clearance of countless other projects. He deployed $15 billion in CARES Act funding during the Covid pandemic and invented the FAA’s letter of intent funding mechanism. He was instrumental in building the first-ever P3airport/land international border crossing in the U.S. and completed the nation’s first One Federal Decision aviation project in less than half the previously required time. To Kirk, “no” is never an option.

  • DAVE TUAN

    VICE PRESIDENT OF P3 INITIATIVES

    David Tuan is the Vice President of P3 Initiatives at CS. Dave has over ten years of experience working for local government, serving in positions as City Administrator, Director of Public Works, and Senior Civil Engineer. David’s public service background includes knowledge of municipal and state government, finance, public works, public safety, and airports. He has led key infrastructure projects during a period of rapid growth in western North Dakota.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to pioneer innovative partnerships that catalyze economic growth and development in the aerospace and aviation sector by leveraging advanced public private collaborations, through merging the creative force and economic prowess of Public/Private Partnerships (P3s) at the highest scale. With guidance from industry veterans from the FAA, NASA, and state-led economic development expertise, we transform regional airports, shaping their impact on communities and embracing technological advancements to create multi-dimensional aviation-related landscapes.

OUR VISION

To be at the forefront of redefining the future of regional airports and the broader aerospace and aviation domain. We envision a world where imaginative partnerships and bold public-private initiatives drive economic prosperity, fueled by technological evolution. By synergizing the insights of seasoned industry leaders with our expertise, we aim to lead aviation projects that transcend limitations, pioneer new horizons, and ultimately reshape the way aviation infrastructure benefits both the industry and local communities.

OUR STORY

Cardon-Shaffer was formed in 2023 to lead evolutionary technological advances and meet growing infrastructure demands of the aerospace and aviation sector. The culmination of these factors has created a climate that will inevitably change the way regional airports operate and more importantly, if positioned properly, how they impact the local community. Cardon- Shaffer specializes in imaginative partnerships that empower economic development through transformative, highly energized projects. By forging the kinds of disruptive public-private partnerships necessary in today’s world, we combine the creativity and economic power of the private sector with public resources – all done with the expertise and purview of seasoned industry leaders from the FAA, NASA and statewide economic development initiatives. As a result, Cardon-Shaffer is poised to lead aviation projects with the vision and expertise to see beyond the horizon.

OUR APPROACH

VISION

CAPITAL

CAPACITY

EXPRESSION

OUR EXPERTISE

AVIATION-BASED MASTER PLANS

CAPITAL STRUCTURE

PUBLIC FINANCING

AI/CYBER-BASED SYSTEMS

Aviation in the media

Read the latest whitepapers from the most trusted organizations in the world to see what’s shaping our vision for the future.