Pelton Joins 2017 Slate of NAA Distinguished Statesmen
Along with Pelton, the awards will be presented to Phil Woodruff, Stephen Alterman, Ali Bahrami, Maj Gen Charles Bolden and Jeff Hamiel.

The National Aeronautic Association named Jack Pelton, Phil Woodruff, Stephen Alterman, Ali Bahrami, Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden and Jeff Hamiel recipients of the 2017 Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award. Established in 1954, the award honors “outstanding Americans who, by their efforts over an extended period of years, have made contributions of significant value to aeronautics and have reflected credit upon America and themselves.”


Currently EAA chairman, Pelton has a long background in manufacturing as former chairman and CEO of Cessna, as well as roles with Douglas Aircraft and Dornier Aircraft. He has a background in advocacy through his work with multiple general aviation organizations. Woodruff is recognized for his contributions as director of education for the FAA, where his efforts led to the creation of aviation education programs in every state. These include the opening of more than 100 aerospace education resource centers for teachers and aviation career education academies for youth.


Alterman has spent 42 years protecting interests of the cargo air carrier industry, joining the then Air Freight Forwarders Association, now Cargo Airline Association, in 1975 and becoming president of the association in 1982.


Bahrami, former vice president for civil aviation for the Aerospace Industries Association, is now FAA associate administrator for aviation safety. Bolden, the 12th person to serve as NASA Administrator, has been a Naval aviator, commanding general and astronaut. Hamiel has served in a number of roles for the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) in Minnesota over the past 40 years.