The Dee Howard Foundation will honor three pioneers whose leadership and work in the Alamo City has impacted aviation and space science worldwide.

Awards will be presented during the organization’s 2024 luncheon fundraiser, benefitting transformative aerospace programs that are connecting with hundreds of students across the community.

“This year’s honorees are a testament to the deep roots and far reach of San Antonio’s aviation and aerospace talent,” said Dee Howard Foundation Board Chair Tyler Schroeder. “Their individual and collective accomplishments underscore San Antonio’s can-do mindset and our rich history and bright future ahead as our community continues to be a global leader in developing the next generation of talent and innovation in this exciting industry.”

“We’re thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of this distinguished group and, importantly, to use their examples in our ongoing work to inspire, connect with and support upcoming generations of San Antonio’s aerospace and aviation pioneers,” said Dee Howard Foundation Executive Director Christina Martinez. “We look forward to the upcoming San Antonio Aerospace and Aviation Hall of Fame Event as an important milestone bringing the community together and a significant fundraising effort as we grow our work with supporters and partners so our life-changing programs can reach even greater heights and more students in the months ahead.”

Launched in 2015, the Dee Howard Foundation, named in memory of one of the community’s early aerospace innovators and pioneers, honors San Antonio’s longstanding aerospace legacy while preparing the region’s future talent. Since its founding, it has worked hand-in-hand with donors, industry, and educators to deliver an array of engaging learning experiences to approximately 2,000 students across the community.

Among them are a multi-year program in which high school students, under the close supervision of professionals, build working a working aircraft (with a maiden flight by a test pilot planned in February) and a new curriculum—made possible thanks to a recent $150,000 gift from the Kelly Heritage Foundation—that is introducing over 400 students to the fundamentals of drones: building, maintaining and proper operation of the evolving technology and the many related career pathways it is creating across a number of industry sectors.

To learn more about the upcoming Aerospace and Aviation Hall of Fame and how to support the Dee Howard Foundation visit the event page.