The General Aviation Awards (GAA) has revealed the 2025 district honorees for Certificated Flight Instructor, FAA Safety Team Representative, and Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year.
These individuals have moved to the finalist judging for the national awards. The winners of the national awards will be revealed at the end of February 2025, according to officials.
GAA officials note they received 40 nominations this year representing 23 Flight Standards District Offices (FSDO) across the country.
Aviation Maintenance Technicians 2025 District Honorees
Samuel Stewart, Washington, D.C.
William Tramper, Grand Rapids, Michigan
David Mohn, Fargo, N.D.
John Shamass, Belleview, Michigan
Scott Gerkens, Atlanta
Jacob Doster, Columbia, S.C.
Samuel Hardison, Little Rock, Arkansas
Roger Whittier, Scottsdale, Arizona
Certificated Flight Instructors 2025 District Honorees
Tyler Craft, Des Moines, Iowa
Elizabeth Vulgamore, Wichita, Kansas
Asaf Shmulevich, Baltimore, Maryland
Harry Murphine, Philadelphia
Matthew Speare, Greensboro, N.C.
George Pavey, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Kate Russell, Indianapolis
Marci Haengel, Belleview, Michigan
John Kehoe, Denver
Joey Keahey, Atlanta
William Shank, Columbia, S.C.
John Tenney, Orlando, Florida
Adam Boyd, Little Rock, Arkansas
Stephanie Fernihough, San Antonio, Texas
Alexander Mirabile, Scottsdale, Arizona
FAA Safety Team Representatives 2025 District Honorees
Kimberly Magee, Des Moines, Iowa
Matthew A. Williams, Kansas City, Kansas
David Dow, Memphis, Tennessee
Josselyn Slagle, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Harry Kraemer, Baltimore, Maryland
David Krause, Philadelphia
Michael Thompson, Richmond, Virginia
Kirk Bajdek, Grand Rapids, Michigan
James Santilli, Belleview, Michigan
Philip Mandel, Portland, Oregon
Lamar Ellis III, Atlanta
Jay Seward, Columbia, S.C.
Brent Moran, Orlando, Florida
William Smith, Little Rock, Arkansas
David Hook, San Antonio, Texas
Michael Jesch, Long Beach, California
John Keith, Scottsdale, Arizona
Since 1962, the General Aviation Awards Program has recognized a small group of aviation professionals in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance, and flight safety for their contributions to the aviation community. National winners are recognized each July during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
For more information: GeneralAviationAwards.com
