Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the presentation of colors by the Civil Air Patrol National Capital Wing, and remain standing for the national anthem performed by Major Mark A. Wright.
Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
The National Aviation Hall of Fame would like to thank this evening's presenting sponsor, Hillwood.
Sometimes it takes a visionary to see what others can't see. At Hillwood, we bring unique and aspiring visions to life. Founded by Ross Perot, Jr., Hillwood offers a full range of real estate services, from being a developer, investor, and advisor of commercial and industrial real estate developments across the nation and Europe, to creating master-planned residential communities for families to call home. We encourage collaboration and facilitate innovation, making each project something special and enduring. Like Hillwood's Alliance Texas, which has created over 73,000 new jobs and generated $143 billion in local economic impact alone. We bring visions to life by building things that matter to everyone. Now that's something we all can be proud of.
And now, please welcome Chair of the National Aviation Hall of Fame Board of Trustees, Douglas Schwartz.
Well, good evening, everyone. It's a pleasure to have you with us tonight. Welcome. On behalf of the National Aviation Hall of Fame Board of Trustees, it's my great honor to welcome you to the 62nd Annual Enshrinement Ceremony. Tonight, we gather to celebrate excellence, innovation, courage, and service. We gather to honor individuals whose vision and achievements expanded what was possible, and whose influence continues to inspire generations of aviators, engineers, explorers, educators, and dreamers. Whether you've traveled from across the country or from across town, thank you for joining us for this extraordinary evening. We're also honored to welcome two distinguished leaders from the Federal Aviation Administration with us tonight. FAA Administrator, the honorable Brian Bedford. Where are you, Brian? And Acting Deputy Administrator, Liam McKenna, welcome. Thank you both for joining us this evening, and your leadership and service to our nation's aviation industry. Before we begin, I would like to recognize the many people and organizations whose commitment makes tonight possible. We're deeply grateful to our presenting sponsor, Hillwood, whose unwavering support of aviation, aerospace, and the preservation of our nation's aviation heritage has helped make this celebration possible. Please join me in thanking Hillwood for their partnership and leadership. We also extend our sincere appreciation to Bell Textron, our bar sponsor. And we're especially grateful to our inductee sponsors, the University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation. The UND Aerospace Alumni Association. And the Jesch family. Thank you for helping us honor the extraordinary individuals we celebrate this evening. We would also like to recognize our platinum sponsors, Cirrus, Delta TechOps, Gulfstream, MedAir, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the National Business Aviation Association, Piper, and UP Partners. To all our sponsors, partners, donors, volunteers, and friends, thank you for your generosity. And we appreciate your continuing support for the National Aviation Hall of Fame. I also want to offer a very special welcome to the military veterans and active duty service members with us here tonight. Military service has long been an important part of aviation's story, and many of the heroes enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame served our country in uniform. To those of you who have served and who continue to serve today, we thank you for your dedication and your sacrifice. If you are a veteran or currently serving in the armed forces, I ask that you please stand so we may recognize you.
Thanks for the generous support of one of our sponsors. This evening, we are honored to host a group of midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy. May I ask you all please to stand so we can recognize you? The stars of the National Aviation Hall of Fame are our enshrinees, and we're especially honored this evening to be joined by 12 returning enshrinees of the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Your presence reminds us of the extraordinary community that each new class joins. Would our returning enshrinees please stand so we may recognize you? As we celebrate this evening, we also remember a cherished member of the Hall of Fame family who we lost earlier this year. An innovator, champion, and aviation legend, enshrinee Russ Meyer. Please join me in a short moment of silence in his memory. Thank you. Last evening, during the President's Reception, we honored several individuals and organizations for their contributions to aviation. We'd like to take a moment to recognize them again this evening for those of you who weren't with us. When your name is called, please stand and remain standing. The Neil Armstrong Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to retired president and CEO of AOPA, Mark Baker, and former NTSB vice chair and AOPA Air Safety Institute president, Bruce Landsberg. The Milton Caniff Spirit of Flight Award was presented to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. The A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Teacher of the Year Award was presented to aerospace teacher at Elizabethton High School in Tennessee, Dan Mills. Please join me in congratulating all of our award recipients for their remarkable contributions to aviation and aerospace. This evening would not be possible without the dedicated volunteers and leaders who guide the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and I want to recognize our Board of Trustees, whose stewardship helps ensure this institution remains strong for future generations, and our Board of Nominations, whose thoughtful work helps preserve the integrity and prestige of this honor. Would members of both groups please stand so we may see you and recognize you for your service? Tonight, however, our focus is on a truly extraordinary class of enshrinees. The seven individuals we honor this evening represent the very best of aviation and aerospace. They are innovators, pioneers, leaders, visionaries, inventors, explorers, and builders whose achievements span generations and disciplines. Their work improved safety, pushed the boundaries of technology, strengthened our national security, inspired scientific discovery, and opened new pathways for those who followed. The National Aviation Hall of Fame exists to tell these stories, because the story of aviation is ultimately a story about people, individuals who saw possibility where others saw obstacles and dared to imagine a future that did not yet exist. Tonight, these seven remarkable men and women join the 276 enshrinees who came before them. Their stories remind us that progress is built by people with vision, passion, determination, and the courage to pursue bold ideas. As we celebrate their achievements, we're reminded that the next chapter of aviation is still being written. It's now my privilege to introduce someone who understands both the importance of aviation's legacy and the boundless potential of its future. Long before assuming leadership of NASA, Jared Isaacman built a remarkable career at the intersection of entrepreneurship, aviation, and space exploration. An accomplished pilot with more than 8,000 flight hours, he commanded two groundbreaking human spaceflight missions, Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn, and became the first private astronaut to conduct a spacewalk. Today, as the 15th administrator of NASA, he brings the same spirit of innovation, exploration, and bold thinking to one of our nation's most consequential institutions. Please join me in welcoming entrepreneur, pilot, commercial astronaut, and administrator of NASA, the Honorable Jared Isaacman.
Well, good evening, everyone. It is absolutely wonderful to be here. I know we have many distinguished guests in the crowd, Administrator Bedford, Acting Administrator McKenna, Administrator Bolden, Chairman Schwartz, this year's enshrinees and their families, the many NASA astronauts, aviation legends, industry leaders, and friends that are here tonight. It is an absolute honor to be with you. And I say that absolutely from the bottom of my heart. This is a room filled with so many of my personal heroes. There is just so much talent and history that is represented here this evening. People who've commanded aircraft and spacecraft, walked in space, walked in space many, many times, pushed the boundaries in aviation, advanced safety. They've built companies, trained generations, and contributed to what I describe as the greatest adventure in human history. And as our nation celebrates our 250th birthday, it's worth reflecting on just how much of America's story has been written in the sky above us. It took just 65 years from when Orville and Wilbur's first flight to Neil and Buzz walking on the surface of the Moon. And through that time, we progressively developed new forms of propulsion. We broke the sound barrier. We opened up commercial air travel and the economic benefits that followed. We strengthened our national security and ultimately built rockets powerful enough to carry our astronauts to the Moon and bring them home safely. That progress happened because generation after generation rejected the status quo, refused to accept the limits of what they inherited, and never, never hit the pause button on progress. The people recognized by the National Aviation Hall of Fame are part of that story. They made flight safer and faster and more capable. They opened doors for those who followed, in many cases, carried the same spirit directly from the atmosphere into space. Those of us inspired by the pioneers and the heroes of decades past know what they achieved was extraordinary. They gave those of us who followed a higher starting point and the responsibility to keep moving forward. At NASA, we are certainly carrying that legacy forward. In service of the first day at NASA, we are presently rebuilding our X-plane fleet. The X-59 is researching quiet supersonic flight, and it is just the beginning. As NASA recommits to flight test and works alongside industry to push the boundaries, start flying higher and faster as we reevaluate airframe and propulsion designs. And it will not be long before NASA again is flying as high and fast as we have in decades past, and then even more. Above the atmosphere, America is back in the business of sending our astronauts to the Moon again. Artemis II was just the beginning. Those four heroic astronauts rode 8.8 million pounds of thrust to near earth escape velocity, traveled farther into space than any humans in history, around the Moon, and again, back home safely. Now we are accelerating Artemis III, preparing for the grand return on Artemis IV, and establishing humanity's first enduring outpost in another world, a Moon base. And we are not jumping directly to the dream state anymore. We are not trying to make everyone happy by building programs that are too big to fail but become truly too costly to succeed. We are dusting off the playbook of success from decades past. We're moving iteratively. We are building, testing, we're flying, and then we're learning from it. That's how America achieved the near impossible on July 20th, 1969, when the Eagle landed, and that's how we are building the Moon base today. Through a steady cadence of missions to learn what works and what doesn't, what we call the science of survival. Autonomous and crewed mobility, surface improvement, in situ resource utilization and manufacturing, logistics, habitability, power, communication, navigation, and all the science instruments the NASA budget affords. But the Moon is not the end goal. It is the proving ground for what comes next. In 2028, SR-1 Freedom will get America underway on nuclear power in space, the first step towards a nuclear NASA capable of reaching deeper into the solar system. Now along the way, we will continue launching missions of science and discovery, pursuing the secrets of the universe, and developing the technologies that will expand what is possible in space, and along the way, make life better back here at home. There is a straight line from the earliest days of aviation into everything ahead of us. Every generation inherits a frontier. It began humbly, just getting off the ground in what was essentially a powered kite. Then came higher, faster, and farther until we reached orbit, and then the Moon. Our task now is to pick up where Apollo 17 left off, make living and working beyond Earth truly enduring, and take the next giant leap to Mars. If we do that, those who follow will inherit something no generation before them ever has, a starting point on another planet. And that is why nights like this matter. Somewhere, a child will hear the story of someone in this room. They're going to watch an aircraft tear across the sky, perform at an air show, a rocket leave the pad, and they're going to feel that fire of exploration. Maybe they become an engineer, a scientist, a technician, an entrepreneur, an operator, a pilot, or even an astronaut. Maybe they think of questions we never thought to ask, do the job better than we ever could, and take humanity farther than ever before. That is how this generation and this great adventure continues, and the people we honor tonight are part of that continuum. You took what you inherited, you advanced it, and gave the next generation something greater to build upon. So to this year's inductees, congratulations. To your families and everyone who helped you get here, thank you. And to all the pioneers in this room, thank you for setting the bar so high and showing what is possible when extraordinary people refuse to accept the limits of their time. For 250 years, America has led and inspired the world by taking on extraordinary challenges and succeeding. Now it's our responsibility to do the same for those who follow, to take on the hard things, to put wins on the board, and leave them with a world of possibility beyond anything we ever inherited. And right now, this is our time. This is the golden age of exploration and discovery, and we are just getting started. Thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage your master of ceremonies for the evening, award-winning network news correspondent and longtime aviation journalist, Ms. Lisa Stark.
Good evening. It is such an honor to be here with you to celebrate another incredible class of inductees into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Now, if you look at your program tonight, you will notice that your emcee, your pilot for the evening, was supposed to be Pete Muntean at CNN. I am not Pete. Pete unfortunately had to bow out at the last minute, so I was delighted to be here in his stead. Kind of look at me as the co-pilot who suddenly has to fly the next leg. I promise we'll get there on time, we'll have a great time, and we'll land safely, okay? All right. Tonight, we gather to celebrate an extraordinary group of men and women whose ideas, leadership, and perseverance changed the course of aviation and aerospace. And what a fitting time to gather. It's our nation's 250th anniversary, and Americans are reflecting on the people who helped shape this country. When you think about that, you think of presidents, inventors, explorers. Well, as we know, aviation has produced its own brand of pioneers. People who look beyond the accepted limits, people who challenged assumptions, people who refused to believe that impossible was the final answer. For more than a century, aerospace and aviation has represented some of America's most boldest ambitions, from unlocking the skies to exploring space, from uniting communities from around the world, to keeping millions of travelers safe in the skies every single day. And a lot of you in this room are responsible for that, I will tell you. And while technology continues to evolve at an extraordinary pace, one thing has never changed. Progress begins with people. A curious student, a determined engineer, a visionary entrepreneur, a dedicated educator, a pilot willing to accept responsibility when it really matters. Every breakthrough begins with someone who dares to imagine a better future and then goes to work building it. Tonight's inductees remind us that history is created by individuals who choose to have that bigger dream, who work harder, and who serve something greater than themselves. And now it is our privilege to welcome seven remarkable pioneers into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. So ladies and gentlemen, let's get started.
Our first inductee this evening really needs no introduction, but I have to give you one anyway because they asked me to. He is an acclaimed airline captain whose quick thinking and calm leadership during that emergency landing on the Hudson River back in 2009 saved all 155 people on board. I want to repeat that, 155. You know what they call them, souls, right? 155 souls got off that airplane. We remember it, US Airways Flight 1549, the Miracle on the Hudson. It made him a global symbol of aviation heroism, and in the years since, he has become a leading advocate for aviation safety, pilot training, and even public service, serving as US Ambassador to ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Organization. And while the world really came to know about his leadership that amazing day on the Hudson, those who knew him earlier really wouldn't have been surprised at what happened. In 1973, while graduating from the US Air Force Academy, he received the Outstanding Cadet Airmanship Award. Of course, an early indication of the skill and professionalism that would define his career. And now I ask you to please take a look at the video screen.
Heroes are not made in the moment. They are shaped by years of preparation, discipline, and dedication. For Captain C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger, a lifetime of excellence prepared him for aviation's most defining test. Growing up in Denison, Texas, Sully's passion for aviation began early.
So I had the good fortune to grow up in a safe, stable environment in which education was valued, ideas were important, and striving for excellence was expected.
He earned his pilot's license as a teenager, graduated from the United States Air Force Academy, and went on to serve as an Air Force fighter pilot, eventually becoming a flight leader and training officer flying the F-4 Phantom. Over the next three decades, he built a reputation as an airline captain, instructor, and safety expert, helping shape the very principles of professionalism and crew coordination that define modern airline operations. On January 15th, 2009, Sully's calm judgment and extraordinary skill became part of aviation history. Just moments after departing from New York's LaGuardia Airport, US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of geese, disabling both engines. Faced with an unprecedented emergency and only seconds to act, Captain Sullenberger drew upon decades of training, and with remarkable composure, successfully landed the Airbus A320 on the Hudson River. In what became known around the world as the Miracle on the Hudson, all 155 passengers and crew survived. Sully's leadership, teamwork, and commitment to safety transformed a possible tragedy into one of the most celebrated achievements in aviation history and renewed public appreciation for the skill, training, and professionalism of airline crews everywhere. Captain Sullenberger's legacy extends far beyond a single flight. For decades, he helped advance aviation safety as an airline captain, accident investigator, instructor, and trusted advocate for the profession. Through his writing, speaking, and leadership, he has influenced generations of aviators while championing operational excellence and organizational reliability.
My favorite definition of innovation is actually a very simple one. It is to change before you're forced to. And the more and quicker that you're able to change, the better you're able to turn adversity into opportunity.
As founder and CEO of Safety Reliability Methods, Inc., he has helped organizations strengthen safety, performance, and resilience. For his extraordinary leadership, professionalism, and enduring contributions to aviation, Captain Sullenberger has received some of the industry's highest honors and become a symbol of excellence under pressure. Among his many honors is the Master's Medal of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators, along with numerous awards recognizing his service, leadership, and contributions to aviation. The moment that made him famous lasted only a few minutes. The preparation, discipline, and dedication that made it possible defined a lifetime. His influence on aviation will endure for generations. We proudly welcome Captain C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
Tonight, we welcome legendary airline captain and aviation safety advocate, Captain C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Captain Sullenberger could not be with us tonight and joins us by video feed. Accepting on his behalf is Patrick Harten, the New York TRACON air traffic controller who handled US Airways Flight 1549 during the Miracle on the Hudson. Presenting Captain Sullenberger for induction is National Aviation Hall of Fame Vice Chair Major General John Barry.
Ladies and gentlemen, please turn your attention to the screens as we welcome Captain C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger.
Thank you. Hello. It's good to be with you. I wish I could have been there in person. First, I want to congratulate the other enshrinees on lifetimes of accomplishments, and I thank you for the honor of enshrinement in the National Aviation Hall of Fame. I know I'm here tonight because of the events of January 15th, 2009, a time when 155 people, passengers, and crew very suddenly faced an extreme emergency of a lifetime, and they and the air traffic controllers, especially Patrick Harten, and the rescuers and first responders, chose to make it their mission in life to save every life. I also know that we are here because of all the previous inductees of the National Aviation Hall of Fame and many others. It reminds me of Sir Isaac Newton's famous quote, "If I've seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." From a very early age, I knew I wanted to fly airplanes. That was the beginning of a lifetime following that dream, and the two things that I always loved about it, the mastery it requires and the wonder of flight that it affords with the controls in my hands. I was so fortunate to spend an entire working lifetime doing something I loved. My career was much more than one flight. Forty-two years as a pilot, as a pilot union safety committee member and chairman, accident investigator, pilot instructor, and developer of an instructor in airline crew leadership training. I hope my career stands on its own apart from Flight 1549. And it was a huge advantage to have been a US Air Force fighter pilot flying the F-4 Phantom II. It was the best flying I've ever done. There's nothing else like it. I like to say that for 42 years, I have been making small, regular deposits in a bank of education, training, and experience, so that on January 15th, 2009, the balance was sufficient that I could make a sudden large withdrawal. My wife, Lori, has always said that I don't get into an airplane. I put it on as an extension of myself. She also says that I'm a pilot's pilot, that I love the art of the airplane. In the first days after Flight 1549, our first officer, Jeff Skiles, and I understood that because of the worldwide attention paid to our flight, we now had a greater voice to speak on behalf of our professional colleagues and everyone who flies about the importance of our profession and the need to keep improving safety. We felt a tremendous obligation to do that, that not to do so would be a dereliction of duty. We succeeded. The Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010 raised pilot flight experience standards, improved pilot training, crew rest requirements, and made other important safety improvements. I have continued my efforts by testifying before congressional committees many times, including about the Boeing 737 MAX fatal crashes. Aviation has been my life. I think it is a human need to try to leave the world better than we found it. In this domain, I think we have. I hope my career will inspire others to find their own passion and purpose in the air. It has been an honor and a pleasure to be with you. I will watch eagerly to see what new advances and accomplishments are made and celebrated in future years. Thank you.
I just have to say on a personal note, I had the, and I say pleasure really, of covering the Miracle on the Hudson when I was with ABC News. And it was an extraordinary event, and it was just amazing to think what Captain Sullenberger did, his co-pilot did, and all those flight attendants did to get everybody off that airplane. So I just want to give them another round of applause. Our next inductee has inspired generations with her pioneering achievements in space flight and in science. Selected as an astronaut in 1978, she was among the first women to join NASA as the Astronaut Corps. I'm sure that was not easy. And also, later she served as NASA's chief scientist. She logged more than 5,300 hours in space across five missions as an astronaut and a biochemist, and that included 188 days on Russia's Mir Space Station. One small detail from her childhood will tell you everything you need to know about this woman and about her determination. She sold her bicycle to buy a telescope. Most of us would probably sell the telescope to buy the bicycle. No, she went the other way, and she ended up in space. Again, please direct your attention to the video screen.
Long before she orbited Earth, Dr. Shannon Lucid looked beyond the horizon and imagined what might be possible. Born in Shanghai, China, and raised in Oklahoma, Shannon Lucid developed an early curiosity about science and exploration. Through hard work, determination, and a passion for discovery, she earned a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Oklahoma. But in 1978, Lucid embarked on a journey that would change history when she was selected for NASA's Astronaut Group Eight, the first astronaut class to include women. Her selection helped usher in a new era of American space flight. Over the course of five space shuttle missions, Lucid helped advance scientific research and human space flight. Yet her most remarkable achievement came in 1996 when she launched aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis and began a historic mission aboard the Russian space station Mir.
Well, I was very fortunate to get the opportunity to fly on Mir, and it was very interesting as the shuttle started getting closer and you could see Mir. First of all, you see it just as a bright light, like a star, and then it got larger and larger, and it just looked like a giant tinker toy up there. And it was sort of surreal to think that that was going to be your home for a long period of time. Now, the interesting thing about Mir as compared to the International Space Station, with the International Space Station, you're basically in constant communication with the Earth. But on Mir, we only had communication when we were over a Russian ground station, so we circled the Earth about every 90 minutes. So that meant we had about 10 minutes of comm about every 90 minutes.
Living in space for 188 days, Lucid conducted critical scientific experiments. She lit candles to study the behavior of fire in a microgravity environment, studied how quail embryos developed in their shells, grew protein crystals, and even cultivated wheat in a tiny greenhouse. At the time, her mission set records for the longest space flight by an American woman and the longest stay in space by any American. Just as importantly, the mission provided valuable experience in long-duration space flight and international cooperation, helping pave the way for the International Space Station. Throughout her distinguished NASA career, Lucid logged more than 5,300 hours in space across five missions and became one of NASA's most respected astronaut scientists. She later served as NASA's chief scientist, helping guide the agency's research and supporting future generations of explorers. Lucid spent her career proving that excellence knows no boundaries, encouraging young people to pursue careers in science while demonstrating the power of curiosity and determination. In 1996, Lucid became the first woman to receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, one of the nation's highest recognitions for astronaut achievement. She also received NASA's Distinguished Service Medal and was inducted in both the International Space Hall of Fame and the US Astronaut Hall of Fame. Tonight, we honor a scientist, explorer, and trailblazer whose achievements continue to inspire generations of astronauts and researchers. We celebrate a remarkable legacy and proudly welcome Dr. Shannon Lucid into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
Tonight, we welcome trailblazing astronaut and record-setting explorer, Dr. Shannon Lucid, into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Accepting on Dr. Lucid's behalf tonight is fellow pioneering astronaut and National Aviation Hall of Fame inductee, Colonel Eileen Collins. Presenting Dr. Lucid for induction, his friend and author, Bill Moore.
Chemist, astronaut, NASA chief scientist, CAPCOM, and mission control, Dr. Shannon Lucid, was a World War II prisoner of war as a baby. Her parents were missionaries in Japanese territory, occupied part of China. Shannon was born in China, and as a fellow Oklahoman, John Harrington says he refers to her as the first Chinese astronaut. She was a world record holder for time in space, a member of the first group of female astronauts, mother, grandmother, and a pilot. Shannon wears many hats. I met Shannon through my work at the Oklahoma History Center on a project dealing with Oklahomans in the space program. She was very easy to get to know, and I felt at home with a fellow Oklahoman right away. It helped that we shared our alma mater, the University of Oklahoma, where we missed each other by just a couple of years. She learned to fly while attending college at the university. In the summer of 1962, Shannon enrolled in American history, differential equations, and ground school with flying lessons. For her first flight, she met with flight instructor Mr. DeHart, and here's what she wrote about that first lesson. "After we were both buckled in, he asked if I had any questions before we took off. Of course, I wanted to ask an impressive question. I wanted to present myself as aviation savvy. So I pointed to the nearest dial on the panel in front of me and asked, 'Now, just what does this gauge do?' I was so impressed at using the word gauge. It just sounded so aviationy." "The answer shouted from the back, 'That's the clock.'" "Totally deflated my ego," she said. She also added, "Every flight was a miracle. Every flight hour was worth the 20 hours of bussing tables. I was airborne. I know just where I belonged, twisting, turning, soaring, gliding high above the earth." Well, 1,500 feet high. But as we all know, she would go a lot higher. Her first plane was an old Piper Clipper 36H. She and a friend stripped it down and rebuilt her inside and out, and it was love at first sight for her. Shannon described the feeling. Holidays, weekends, evenings, and mornings were made exclusively for 36H and me. She was working as a research assistant at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation when on January 16th, 1978, she returned a call from NASA's George Abbey to find out she was being invited to be an astronaut. Shannon flew four missions, STS-51G, 34, 43, and 58. And then in 1996, she launched on STS-76 to the Russian Mir Space Station, setting records and living in space. In recalling life on Mir, Shannon said, "I spent six months aboard the Russian space station Mir. Though I wouldn't describe the experience as better than my four prior space shuttle flights, the long duration of the Mir mission provided me with more time to reflect on the actual experience. Almost every day, I floated to the large observation window in Kvant-2," that's a module in Mir, "and gazed down at the Earth below or out into the depths of the universe." Shannon's drive to fly and to travel to space has inspired so many girls and women of all ages. When a young Eileen Collins was in training in the early Air Force jet pilot classes allowing women to participate at Vance Air Force Base, the first group of women astronauts with Shannon, Sally Ride, Kathy Sullivan, and the others were at Vance for our parachute training. Watching them inspired Eileen to know that she could become the first woman to pilot a shuttle and then to command a mission.
I imagine Dr. Lucid knows all the gauges on every aircraft at this point. Our next inductee had a vision to create one of the world's leading collegiate aviation schools. I understand there's a lot of supporters in the room tonight. He took a small flight program, two aircraft, handful of students, and he grew it into the University of North Dakota School of Aerospace Sciences. It's a global leader. He pioneered FAA-accredited degree programs, helped develop international training standards, and expanded UND's work in weather, atmospheric science, and space exploration. That is a lasting legacy. And there's something his former students will tell you about him, too. Despite the fact that he was running the world's premier aviation program, he made time for them. He welcomed them into his home for meals with his family. He put time into them, into their careers, into their futures, not just into their education. By now, you know what comes next. Watch the video, please.
The future of aviation is built not only by those who fly the aircraft, but by those who inspire others to take flight. Few understood that better than John D. Odegard. Raised in Minot, North Dakota, Odegard developed a passion for aviation that would shape his life. After earning an undergraduate and graduate degree in accounting from the University of North Dakota, he began a career dedicated to building the future of flight through education. A pilot, flight instructor, and aviation advocate himself, Odegard brought both technical expertise and real-world experience to the classroom. Odegard envisioned what many considered an impossible challenge: to build a world-class aviation program at the University of North Dakota. UND Aerospace began with just two donated aircraft and a handful of students in 1968. Under Odegard's leadership, UND grew into one of the world's premier aviation programs, educating thousands of pilots, air traffic controllers, and aerospace professionals.
Thank you, Steve. Ladies and gentlemen, this is an extremely exciting announcement for us. The Center for Aerospace Sciences happening to be made up of a Department of Aviation, Computer Sciences, Space Sciences, and Atmospheric Sciences is a unique opportunity, and this will be the only place in the world where our students will have the capability of flying any kind of an airplane from their beginning first lesson all the way up through possibly graduating with their 727 flight engineer certificate as they're a senior departing the university, going to work for Northwest Airlines.
UND's success was driven by Odegard's vision of aviation education. At a time when aviation education was often fragmented, he championed an integrated approach that combined flight training, air traffic control, aviation management, space studies, and aerospace research, all within the context of a liberal arts education. He created opportunities for thousands of students to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace. His leadership helped shape academic standards, advance aviation research, and build partnerships between industry, government, and higher education. Under Odegard's leadership and legacy, UND Aerospace became a recognized leader in aviation, aerospace, atmospheric research, and emerging unmanned aircraft systems, areas that continue to shape the future of flight.
He could do it all. So not only have the big ideas, but work on them and follow through and accomplish so much.
His vision attracted students from around the world, many of whom would go on to become pilots, military leaders, industry executives, and innovators in aviation and aerospace. By investing in students and embracing innovation, he helped ensure the aviation industry would have the skilled workforce it would need in the future. John D. Odegard was honored with the FAA's Excellence in Aviation Award and Distinguished Service Award for his many achievements in aerospace education and safety. He was honored by the National Air Transportation Association with its Excellence in Pilot Training Award and received the prestigious Frank G. Brewer Trophy from the National Aeronautics Association. His greatest legacy lives on in the thousands of aviation professionals whose careers began because of his vision, and in an institution that continues to influence aerospace education worldwide. From two donated aircraft to one of the world's leading aerospace institutions, John D. Odegard transformed how aviation professionals are educated and prepared for the future. Tonight, we honor a visionary educator whose impact can be measured not only in buildings and programs, but in generations of aviators and aerospace leaders. We proudly welcome John D. Odegard into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
Tonight, we welcome visionary aviation educator and aerospace leader, the late John D. Odegard, into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Accepting on his behalf is his wife, Diane Odegard, accompanied by their daughter, Stephanie Odegard LaDue. His induction is presented by his son, John Odegard Jr.
Good evening, and thank you to the National Aviation Hall of Fame for this prestigious honor in recognition of John's life's work, something he later referred to as a journey of love. He would be humbled to be enshrined with the heroes and legends of aviation, and to the 2026 enshrinees, I am humbled to be in your presence. To the aviation industry, thank you for making this evening so special. Cessna, Piper, Beech, Cirrus, Textron, Fargo Jet Center for getting us here. All industry friends who supported John's vision for an aviation program at the University of North Dakota almost 60 years ago. Thank you. Thank you for your products, for your scholarships, for your internships, and most of all, careers for our graduates. John Odegaard loved to fly. He thought everybody should learn to fly. So in 1968, he taught a ground school class in a room no bigger than a closet and began to build a school. But how do you build a school? It wasn't easy. I know. I was there. From one class, to a department, to the Center for Aerospace Sciences, to in 1998, the John D. Odegaard School of Aerospace Sciences. John built a school, always expecting the highest level of professionalism. Students will specialize in aviation within the context of a complete liberal arts university education. First, we will be the best, then we will be the first. Tonight, a very special thank you to the late Thomas J. Clifford, eighth president of the University of North Dakota, the wind under John's wings. John had the big ideas, and Tom made them work. Thank you, UND. To the faculty and staff of the Odegaard School for their unmeasured dedication to the students and their hopes and dreams, there is literally no words that I have to describe this kind of loyalty. With us tonight, we are so honored to have the three deans who succeeded John, Dr. Bruce Smith, Dr. Paul Lindseth, and our current dean, Dr. Robert Krauss. These extraordinary men have led the school through some very difficult times of transition, always continuing to honor and to build on John's legacy. Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To the UND Aerospace Foundation, whose mission it is to support the Odegaard School, thank you for your dedication and for all you do nationally and internationally. A special thank you to Clay Lacy and Cy Roblin, board members who couldn't be with us tonight, to the late James Ray and Joe Clark, all great legends of aviation, who have put their hearts into the school to help students. Most importantly, thank you to the students for all you have achieved and will achieve in your professional careers, and for all you have given back. There are 17,000 of you out there living your aviation dreams and hopes. John truly built this school student by student. According to Larry Martin, president of the Aerospace Foundation Board of Directors, John saw something in us we couldn't see in ourselves. John built a school faculty by faculty. Can you imagine trying to hire the first professor? We only have two planes, but we're growing. Today, 173 airplanes grace our runways in Grand Forks and at our Mesa satellite. Last year, we flew a total of 123,585 hours in Grand Forks, and Mesa logged 80,000 hours to exceed 200,000 hours. John built a school handshake by handshake. To the late Russ Myers, CEO of Cessna, making a trip to Grand Forks many times to speak at student banquets and to share insights about the industry. Thank you, Russ. John built a school innovation by innovation. Thank you, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, for helping John start a young astronaut program and eventually a space studies department. Now students can actually live on Mars on the university campus in the ILMAH. That stands for Integrated Lunar Mars Analog Habitat. Working with NASA, research in the habitat will help astronauts in space and those eventually living on the Moon. Our space suit, developed by the outgoing space studies chairman, Pablo de León, has garnered international attention. Buzz, those trips you made to snowy North Dakota helped launch the next era of space exploration at UND. Thank you. In 2015, the state of North Dakota posthumously honored John with induction into the Theodore Roosevelt Roughrider Hall of Fame for achieving national recognition and reflecting honor on the state. John always worked closely with state and congressional lawmakers, and this continues today. With the help of Senator John Hoeven, UND is taking the lead in supporting mental health in aviation and continues to facilitate UAV and UAS research in collaboration with the military and aerospace industry. Earlier in the school's history, with the help of Senator Byron Dorgan, UND was able to continue its Army helicopter training program. Thank you, North Dakota. And finally, to my family, for always supporting and celebrating their father's legacy with grace and with dignity. They literally grew up with the school, so they could tell you many more stories. Thank you for doing such a great job to make this evening a reality. I invite the members of the National Aviation Hall of Fame to come and visit our very friendly state, to see the breathtaking Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library out west in our Badlands. I have no doubt that if TR were with us today, he'd be learning to fly at UND. Come and enjoy the open spaces. But first, come to Grand Forks, come to the University of North Dakota, and visit the school that John built. Thank you.
Our next inductee is often called the father of stealth. A pioneering radar engineer at Wright Field's Aeronautics Lab, he developed groundbreaking methods to measure and predict radar signatures based on shape and materials. The application of those theories put the United States
decades ahead in radar evasion technology, and it laid the foundation for the modern stealth aircraft.
And here's a fun fact: he credits his interest, and his interest in aviation really, to an uncle who worked as a two-star general for the Signal Corps, also at Wright Field. He often said he was just lucky that this early exposure sparked a lifelong passion for learning and practical problem-solving.
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