Dan Mills, an aviation educator at Elizabethton High School in Elizabethton, Tennessee, has been selected as the 2026 A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Educator of the Year.
“With more than five decades of aviation experience, Mills has built one of the nation’s most impactful high school aviation programs, combining rigorous technical instruction with a deeply personal commitment to mentorship, integrity, and character development,” said officials with the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF), which administers the award.
Since joining the Elizabethton City School System in 2010, Mills has developed six aviation courses, helped write the Tennessee state aviation education standards, and created pathways that allow students to solo aircraft and earn pilot certifications at a low cost through community partnerships, NAHF officials added.
“Mills’ program emphasizes not only aeronautical knowledge and flight proficiency, but also personal responsibility and decision‑making,” they continued. “His curriculum challenges students to become individuals of integrity while preparing them to pass the FAA private pilot written exam and solo in a Cessna 172 in under 12 hours of flight instruction. Many of his former students have gone on to careers as airline pilots, flight instructors, air traffic controllers, and aircraft mechanics.”
“This award is incredibly humbling,” said Mills. “Aviation has given me a lifetime of purpose and to be able to share that passion with young people, helping them believe in themselves, make wise decisions, and pursue their dreams, has been the greatest privilege of my career.”
Lt. Col. Herbert W. (Bill) Powley, USAF (Ret.), President of the FLIGHT Foundation, who has worked closely with Mills for more than a decade, nominated him for the award.
“Dan Mills is far more than an aviation instructor. He is a mentor, role model, and life‑changing influence for his students,” said Powley. “I have never known anyone more committed to helping young people reach their potential, both in the cockpit and in life. His impact will be felt for generations.”
Mills’ dedication has earned him widespread recognition, including his induction into the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame in 2025 and the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50 years of exemplary service in aviation safety.
Mills will be honored at the President’s Reception on Sept. 23, 2026, as part of the NAHF 62nd Enshrinement Dinner and Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
About The Award
The A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Educator of the Year award was founded in 1986 by NAHF Enshrinee, engineer, and test pilot A. Scott Crossfield (1921–2006). Positively influenced by teachers in his life, he created the annual award to recognize an exemplary K-12 classroom teacher for innovative use of aerospace to inspire young people toward a greater interest in STEM subjects and potential aerospace-related careers.
For more information: NationalAviation.org
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