GREATER MIAMI AVIATION ASSOCIATION TO HONOR TUSKEGEE AIRMAN AND OTHER AVIATION INDUSTRY LUMINARIES AT 92ND ANNUAL GALA
Miami-Dade, FL… A Former Tuskegee Airman and other aviation luminaries will be honored at the Greater Miami Aviation Association’s 92th Gala on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at the Trump National Doral Miami Resort.
Lt. Col. Harold Brown (USAF, Ret.) will receive the Pioneer Award for his and other Tuskegee Airman’s courage under the horrors of World War II, and his endurance under the glare of segregation back home. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-Americans to be trained as combat pilots during World War II. Their heroics included escorting B-17 bombers in the European campaign; downing the German jet fighter; and destroying a German cruiser with just machine gun fire.
Other awardees include:
- Nicolas Finazzo, Executive Chairman of AerSale for the Wright Brothers Memorial Award;
- Rafael Alonso, past president for Airbus, Latin America for the Juan Trippe Award;
- Derry Huff, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for Amerijet International for the Glenn Curtis Award;
- John Evans, Founder and CEO of Jetscape/Azorra for the Edward V. Rickenbacker Award;
- Konrad J. Walter, CEO of Taking Aviation Forward; Managing partner for TMS aero for the Lifetime Achievement Award;
- Regional One for the Corporate Achievement Award
In addition, students from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Memorial University, Broward College, Lynn University, Miami-Dade College and George T. Baker Technical College will receive scholarships and type rating certificates ranging from $1,000.00 to $10,000.00 through the George T. Bachelor Scholarship Fund, PanAm Academy and the Murphy Family. The total amount is estimated at $92,000.
The GMAA has provided more than $450,000 in scholarships to local young aviators. The scholarships will be awarded to the students at the gala.
Aviv Tzur, President of GMAA commented: “We are proud to support 22 outstanding young aviators, women and men who dream of careers in the aviation industry, and are citizens of our community. Such scholarships could change the lives and career trajectory of theses students, which was the vision of Mr. Batchelor.”
The Greater Miami Aviation Association (GMAA) was established in 1927 and is one of the largest and oldest Civic and Business Aviation organizations in the Americas. GMAA works in concert with other organizations, industry leaders, government and civic leaders to ensure professional, ethically positive action programs are implemented in matters relating to the Aviation and Aerospace industries.