Air & Space Hall of Fame Class Set to Be Inducted
The San Diego Air & Space Museum will honor its 2026 class of aviation and space pioneers at a November gala.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Awards
The San Diego Air & Space Museum announced the members of its 2026 International Air & Space Hall of Fame class. The class will be inducted at a gala on November 21, 2026.
Why it matters
The induction recognizes figures across space policy, aviation history, air show management, and military and test flight, spanning both past and present contributions to the field. Proceeds from the celebration support the museum's educational programming and youth STEM initiatives in San Diego.
Doug Matthews holds 28,000 flight hours and more than 100 aviation records, while NASA test pilot Robert A. Rivers has over 13,000 flight hours across more than 70 aircraft types. The announcement does not detail the selection process or the number of nominees considered.
The players
San Diego Air & Space Museum
A San Diego museum dedicated to aviation and space history that operates the International Air & Space Hall of Fame.
Buzz Aldrin
An Apollo 11 astronaut and one of the first humans to walk on the Moon, receiving the Aviation Sword of Excellence.
The details
The 2026 class includes Dr. Mark J. Albrecht, former executive secretary of the White House National Space Council, and Nell "Mickey" Stevenson Bright, the last living member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots. Also honored are John Cudahy, president and CEO of the International Council of Air Shows since 1997, and OMEGA Watches, creator of the Speedmaster chronograph. The museum will also present the Aviation Sword of Excellence to Buzz Aldrin, Clay Lacy, Si Robin, and Royce Williams.
Timeline
November 21, 2026: Hall of Fame class induction gala at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
Legacy Recognition
The induction of Nell "Mickey" Stevenson Bright, the last living member of the World War II Women Airforce Service Pilots, places the 2026 class within the lineage of wartime women aviators. The class thus pairs contemporary space policy and industry leaders with surviving members of aviation's earliest generations.
The gala and its proceeds support youth STEM programming at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Residents interested in aviation and space education can follow the museum's programs and events.
The takeaway
Honoring both pioneers of early flight and current leaders in space policy shows how aviation achievements span generations. Readers interested in those fields can look to local museums as a place to learn that history firsthand.
What happens next
The Hall of Fame class will be formally inducted at the gala on November 21, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more San Diego awards coverage to see other honors recognizing local achievements.
Source note: This article includes information reported by General Aviation News.
