Living Legends of Aviation to Honor Firefighters, Others

John Travolta, actor and aviation ambassador, will serve as event host and welcomeLiving Legends honorees Christopher Cassidy, a former Navy SEAL and NASA astronaut who logged three spaceflights, 10 spacewalks, and a total of logging 377 days in space, Robert “Hoot” Gibson, a former astronaut, Navy fighter pilot, and air race pilot, and Tom Costello, NBC’s lead aviation and space correspondent and an Emmy award-winning reporter.

Living Legends of Aviation such as Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and actor Morgan Freeman, and others will also be honoring the aerial fire crews that were instrumental in battling the urban wildfires that decimated much of the Los Angeles area in January. During the fires crews worked around the clock launching aerial attacks to save lives and property as the firestorm ravaged the area.

Each year Living Legends of Aviation seeks to honor individuals and entities that have brought distinction to the industry. 

The Polaris Dawn Crew will receive the inaugural Dr. Buzz Aldrin Space Advancement Award for its historic mission. During the mission commander Jared Isaacman, mission pilot Scott "Kid" Poteet, mission specialist Sarah Gillis, and mission specialist and medical officer Anna Menon performed cutting-edge experiments, high altitude orbital maneuvers, and the first private spacewalk.

Kaye Gitibin, the co-founder and CEO of Go Rentals, will receive the Aviation Entrepreneur Award. Go Rentals is the only vehicle rental company in the world specializing in private aviation and the only one with NATA Safety First certification.

Ronald Draper, CEO of Textron Aviation, will receive the Lifetime Aviation Industry Leader Award. Draper has overseen the growth of the Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker brands, shaping the future of aviation innovation. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, Draper served as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot before bringing his leadership experience into the world of aviation manufacturing.

The Dr. Sam B. Williams Technology Award will be presented to Burt Rutan, a retired aerospace engineer and entrepreneur, perhaps best known for designing SpaceShipOne, the first nongovernment, privately funded manned craft to fly to space and the Voyager, which in 1986 was the first aircraft to fly around the world without refueling. 

Peter Beck will receive the Eren Ozmen Aviation Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Beck is the founder, CEO, and chief engineer of Rocket Lab, a Nasdaq-listed leading launch and space systems company dedicated to opening access to space to improve life on Earth. Since founding the company in 2006, Beck has grown Rocket Lab into a global organization of 2,500 employees across the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.

Lieutenant Commander Amanda "Stalin" Lee will receive the Barron Hilton Aviation Inspiration Award for becoming the first female demonstration pilot for the Navy’s Blue Angels. Her decorations include four Navy Achievement medals and various personal and unit awards.

Louis Pepper will receive the Kenn Ricci Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award. Under Pepper’s guidance Atlantic Aviation has grown into one of the nation’s largest general aviation companies and helped redefine the concept of a world-class FBO. Pepper served as Atlantic Aviation’s CEO for 30 years, stepping down in 2023. He now serves as an active member of the company’s board of directors and senior adviser to the CEO. 

As part of the 2025 ceremony, the program will pay tribute to four deceased legends who have “flown west” since the last gathering. They include Richard “Dick” Rutan, Roy Morgan, Brigadier General Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, and Major General William “Bill” Anders.