NATA Recognizes Extraordinary And Meritorious Service To The Industry
The William A. “Bill” Ong Memorial Award is named in honor and memory of the association’s Co-Founder and first President and is given for extraordinary achievement and extended meritorious service to the general aviation industry.
Current Recipient
2024 – Louis Pepper, CEO, Atlantic Aviation
Past Recipients
2023 – S. Michael Scheeringa, Managing Director, SAR Trilogy Management
2021/2022 – Craig R. Sincock, Owner, President, and CEO of Avfuel
2018 – Martin (Marty) H. Hiller, former NATA President (current owner of FBOs Marathon Jet Center and Marathon General Aviation, CEO of Hiller Carbon, and a principal in North Shore Holdings, LLC)
2017 – Larry R. Flynn, former President, Gulfstream Aerospace
2016 – Edward M. Kilkeary, Sr., founder and CEO, L.J. Aviation
2015 – James C. Christiansen
2014 – John Pistole, former Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator
2013 – The Honorable Sam Graves (R-MO), U.S. House of Representatives
2012 – Bruce Whitman, FlightSafety International
2011 – Kenneth C. Ricci, Flight Options
2010 – Pat Epps, Epps Aviation
2009 – Gary Driggers, Midcoast Aviation
2008 – Richard Van Gemert, Sr. VP, Jet Aviation
2007 – Ray Fitzgerald, Vice Chairman and Director, Landmark Aviation
2006 – Robert and Kim Showalter, Owners, Showalter Flying Service
2005 – Charles E. Priester, Priester Aviation, LLC
2004 – Russell W. Meyer, Jr., Chairman Emeritus, Cessna Aircraft Company
2003 – Al Ueltschi, founder, FlightSafety International
2002 – Gwen Mayo, founder, Mayo Aviation
2001 – Herb & Arlene Elliott, Elliott Aviation
2000 – William B. Watt
1999 – Clay Lacy, founder, Clay Lacy Aviation
1998 – Julian Jordan “J.J.” Frey, former Vice President of the Seaplane Operation for the EDO Corporation
1997 – Paul E. Sanderson, Vice Chairman, Jeppesen Sanderson
1996 – William R. Cutter, Chairman, Cutter Aviation
1995 – Howard V. Gregory, founder of Des Moines Flying Service
1994 – John T. Tucker, vice chairman, Midcoast Aviation
1993 – Kenneth A. Rowe, former President, National Association of State Aviation Officials
1992 – Thomas H. Davis, founder & former Chairman, Piedmont Aviation, Inc.
1991 – Leighton Collins, founder & Publisher, Air Facts
1990 – Thomas Dickson, Jr., former Vice President, Airwork Service Division
1989 – Robert S. Northington, Sr., former Sr. Vice President, Piedmont Aviation
1988 – G.B. Van Dusen, founder, Van Dusen Aircraft Supplies
1987 – George J. Priester, founder, Priester Aviation
1986 – Harry B. Combs, founder, Combs Aircraft
1985 – George E. Haddaway, former Editor and Publisher, Flight Magazine
1984 – Paul E. Garber, Director Emeritus, National Air & Space Museum