Ultimately, airports must function as part of a broader ecosystem, connecting physical assets, digital systems, and communities to support safe, efficient, and adaptable air travel over time. When modernization is treated as part of the mission, not separate from it, infrastructure becomes more resilient, more secure, and better positioned to support operations well into the future. Projects like China Lake show that it requires close coordination with operators, disciplined integration of infrastructure and systems, rigorous testing, and a long‑term sustainment…