Bruce Whitman grew up in Stamford, Connecticut. He attended Kent School in Kent, Connecticut, and received a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College in 1955 in Hartford, Connecticut. As a member of the Air Force ROTC, he also received an Air Force commission, earning pilot, navigator and bombardier ratings while on active duty. After his active duty service, Whitman attended George Washington School of Law, while also flying for both the East Coast Flying Service and the Air Force Reserve. In 1961, after two years as an executive with the National Business Aircraft Association, Whitman joined FlightSafety International as Assistant to the President. Later that same year he was elected Vice President and Company Director. He was named Executive Vice President in 1962. In 2003, he became CEO, and also served as Chairman of the Board. FlightSafety International is the world’s leading aviation training company, providing more than one million hours of training each year to over 75,000 pilots, technicians and other aviation professionals, from 154 countries or territories. FlightSafety operates the world’s largest fleet of advanced full flight simulators at learning centers and training locations in Asia, Europe, North and South America, the Pacific rim and South Africa. Whitman served on a number of boards, including the Board of Governors at the Aerospace Industries Association and Flight Safety Foundation, at the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, with Orbis International, and with the Civil Air Patrol. He was also Director Emeritus of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and was a Trustee of the National D-Day Museum, the Falcon Foundation and the National World War II Museum. Whitman was also Chairman Emeritus of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, having served as Co-Chairman for over ten years. In 2014, he received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from Living Legends of Aviation.
Inducted in 2018.
Portrait Location: Modern Jet

Induction Video