The San Diego Air & Space Museum will induct its International Air & Space Hall of Fame Class of 2026 during a gala on Nov. 21, 2026.
This year’s class includes:
- Dr. Mark J. Albrecht: Space policy leader, author, and former executive secretary of the White House National Space Council who also served as president of International Launch Services for Lockheed Martin.
- Nell “Mickey” Stevenson Bright: Pioneering aviator and the last living member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), who flew missions in B-25, B-26, P-47, and A-24 aircraft during World War II.
- John Cudahy: Licensed private pilot and president and CEO of the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS), who has led the organization since 1997.
- Doug Matthews: Veteran naval aviator, commercial aviation entrepreneur, and record-setting pilot with 28,000 flight hours and more than 100 aviation records.
- OMEGA Watches: The creator of the Speedmaster chronograph, which was qualified by NASA in 1965 for all manned space missions and worn during all six lunar landings.
- Robert A. Rivers: NASA test pilot, naval aviator, and aerospace engineer with more than 13,000 flight hours in more than 70 aircraft types, who served as the only pilot to evaluate both the Concorde and Russian Tu-144 supersonic transports.
The museum will also present the Aviation Sword of Excellence to four aviation pioneers: Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, business aviation pioneer Clay Lacy, Sensor Systems co-founder Si Robin, and Naval combat aviator Royce Williams.
“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,” said Jim Kidrick, president and CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
Proceeds from the celebration support the museum’s educational programming and youth initiatives in science, technology, engineering, and math.
For more information: SandiegoAirAndSpace.org
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