Guests from around the world are assembling for a spectacular evening of fun and extraordinary recognition for the annual star-studded International Air & Space Hall of Fame gala on Saturday Nov. 21, the San Diego Air & Space Museum announced today.

Since 1963, the International Air & Space Hall of Fame has honored the world’s most significant pilots, crew members, visionaries, inventors, industry leading companies, aerospace engineers, aerospace industrialists, preservationists, designers and space explorers.

This year’s International Air & Space Hall of Fame “Class of 2026” includes: Dr. Mark Albrecht, distinguished aerospace executive, space policy leader and author; Nell “Mickey” Stevenson Bright, pioneering aviator and last living Women Air Force Service Pilot (WASP); John Cudahy, leading voice in the air show industry and President and CEO of the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS); Doug Matthews, accomplished aviation entrepreneur, businessman and philanthropist whose career has been defined by innovation and a pioneering spirit; OMEGA Watches, renowned for accuracy and ruggedness, Speedmaster chronographs are inextricably linked to the most dramatic and impressive scientific achievements in human history, including all six lunar landings; and Robert Rivers, distinguished NASA test pilot, Naval aviator and aerospace engineer whose career spans more than 13,000 flight hours in over 70 aircraft types.

In addition to inducting the “Class of 2026,” this year’s celebration pays tribute to four extraordinary aviation pioneers – Buzz Aldrin, Clay Lacy, Seymour “Si” Robin and Royce Williams – whose groundbreaking achievements shaped modern aerospace. During the event, Museum President & CEO Jim Kidrick is honoring Aldrin, Lacy, Robin and Williams with the Aviation Sword of Excellence, recognizing their enduring legacy of innovation and inspiration to generations of innovators and explorers to reach ever higher.

“The International Air & Space Hall of Fame ‘Class of 2026’ and Aviation Sword of Excellence recipients represent the true pioneering spirit of aviation exploration, from American icons in the skies over countless cultural and historic moments, to record-setting flights, legendary fighter aircraft, and groundbreaking revolutions in commercial and business aviation innovation,” said Jim Kidrick, President & CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum. “Achievements in aviation and space, as embodied by the honorees in the prestigious International Air & Space Hall of Fame, directly represent the human pioneering spirit and pursuit of mankind’s future frontiers. This is a can’t miss event and something every guest will remember for the rest of their lives! Guests come from all over the globe just to be in the room with the Honorees and join in this momentous celebration of achievement.”

Meet the International Air & Space Hall of Fame “Class of 2026”

Dr. Mark J. Albrecht
A distinguished aerospace executive, space policy leader and author, Mark Albrecht has more than three decades of experience in government and aerospace industries. He served as Executive Secretary of the White House National Space Council under President George H.W. Bush and later led International Launch Services for Lockheed Martin and advised government and industry on space policy. Albrecht is a recipient of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the Department of Defense Distinguished Civil Service Medal.

Nell “Mickey” Stevenson Bright
Pioneering aviator and the last living Women Air Force Service Pilot (WASP), Nell Bright is one of only 1,074 women to earn WASP wings during World War II, she was among the first 20 women selected to train on B-25 bombers. She flew a remarkable range of aircraft, including the B-25, B-26, P-47 and A-24, performing tow-target and other vital wartime missions. Now 105, Bright remains a powerful living link to the courageous women who advanced American aviation and opened new horizons for generations of women pilots.

John Cudahy
Since 1997, John Cudahy has been a leading voice in the air show industry and President and CEO of the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS). With a career spanning more than four decades in association management, Cudahy helped elevate the professionalism, safety and visibility of the air show industry while serving as a key liaison between air show professionals, the military, government officials and federal regulators. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Cudahy is also a licensed private pilot.

Doug Matthews
Douglas Matthews is a 28,000-hour pilot, accomplished aviation entrepreneur and philanthropist whose career has been defined by innovation and a pioneering spirit. A highly-decorated Vietnam veteran, Matthews served as an F-4 Phantom fighter instructor in the Navy before launching his parallel careers in aviation and business. Among his many endeavors, he founded an airliner leasing company, which grew to more than $1 billion in assets. He also founded the first major Contract Air Services company -- Flight International -- which would eventually start the first contract Aggressor Aircraft program, now a multi-billion dollar industry, for the U.S. Navy. He has set more than 100 U.S. and World aviation records including the world’s altitude record for a propeller aircraft. Matthews spent his career advancing aviation through entrepreneurial innovation and an unwavering commitment to excellence and philanthropy.

OMEGA Watches
Renowned for their legendary ruggedness and accuracy, OMEGA wristwatches are inextricably linked to the most dramatic and impressive scientific achievements in human history, including all six lunar landings. The legacy of OMEGA’s wristwatches is studded with milestones, and one event arguably eclipses all others: when Apollo 11’s Lunar Module landed on the Moon’s surface on July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were wearing OMEGA Speedmaster chronographs, as had every NASA astronaut since March of 1965 when NASA chose it as its official chronograph, declaring it flight-qualified for all manned space missions.

Robert A. Rivers
Robert Rivers is a distinguished NASA test pilot, Naval aviator and aerospace engineer whose career spans more than 13,000 flight hours in over 70 aircraft types. During 14 years at NASA’s Langley Research Center, he served as lead project pilot on numerous advanced flight research programs and became the only pilot to fly and evaluate both the Concorde and Russian Tu-144 supersonic transports. A recipient of numerous honors including NASA’s Aviation Professional of the Year Award and NASA Exceptional Service Medal, Rivers was inducted into the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame in 2015.

The four recipients of the Aviation Sword of Excellence are:

Buzz Aldrin
Astronaut, aeronautical engineer, and fighter pilot, Buzz Aldrin became the second person to walk on the Moon after mission commander Neil Armstrong on July 20, 1969, spending two hours and 15 minutes collecting surface samples and deploying experiments. Aldrin made three spacewalks as pilot of NASA’s 1966 Gemini 12 mission and was the Lunar Module Eagle pilot on the 1969 Apollo 11 mission.

Clay Lacy
A true aviation legend, Clay Lacy is a pioneering aviator, entrepreneur, air racer and aerial cinematographer whose career spans more than seven decades. Founder of Clay Lacy Aviation, established in 1968 as the first executive jet charter company west of the Mississippi, Lacy helped usher in the era of business aviation. He has flown more than 300 aircraft types and logged more than 50,000 flight hours, setting numerous world records along the way.

Si Robin
As an aviation innovator, industry visionary and philanthropist, Si Robin led the industry, advanced safety and technology and changed the lives of countless aspiring aviators. Having earned dozens of patents for his pioneering work in aircraft antennas flown on the vast majority of the world’s aircraft, Si and his wife Betty Bazar Robin built their company Sensor Systems into the premier supplier of innovative aircraft antennas to general, commercial and military aviation.

Royce Williams
National hero and recipient of the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star and two Distinguished Flying Crosses, Royce Williams is an iconic military legend. On November 18, 1952, out manned and piloting what most consider an inferior aircraft to the Mig-15, Williams engaged seven Migs alone for 35 minutes, shooting down four of them in a legendary display of dogfighting skill and bravery.

Support the Mission
Proceeds from the International Air & Space Hall of Fame Celebration, along with gifts made through the “I’m Possible” Matching Gift Challenge, help support the Museum’s mission and its nationally recognized youth education programs.

Through hands-on experiences, educational programming, and inspiring exhibits, the Museum encourages young people to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

“Inspiring kids to undertake tough science and engineering challenges is a critical first step for our future,” said Jim Kidrick, Museum President CEO. “We must also give them the resources and impetus they need to pursue science education degrees.”

Proceeds from the prestigious International Air & Space Hall of Fame celebration benefit the Museum’s youth education programs.

Sponsorships for this once-in-a-lifetime event are still available! For sponsorship information, contact Michelle Wiseman at mwiseman@sdasm.org or by calling (619) 234-8291, Ext. 109.