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Wall of Fame Members

2025 AVIATION WALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Maj Gen Dick

Maj Gen Dan Dick, USAF - VPI 1970

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Bio: Maj Gen Dick joined the AF because the Vietnam War was going hot and heavy during his High School and College years. His draft number was being 15 meant he would be drafted immediately after he lost his college deferment. Therefore, he joined the Corps and AFROTC. He was a industrial engineer major, a member of S squadron being a 1st LT and XO his senior year, and in Arnold Air Society, graduating in 1970.

He served as a fighter pilot in the Air Force for 33 years, where he commanded the Air Force’s first operational F-16 fighter squadron, the Air Force’s largest night fighting LANTIRN F-16 Wing, all Air Force forces in the Persian Gulf enforcing the United Nations no-fly zone and air embargo over Iraq, and 13th Air Force with responsibilities for all Air Force operations in a 32-country area in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.   He is a command pilot with over 3,600 flying hours in F-4s and F-16s, including 155 combat hours and 51 missions over Iraq.

He was inducted into the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department’s Academy of Distinguished Alumni in 1997 and was the recipient of the 2008 ISE Department’s Marvin H. Agee Distinguished Alumni Award. He was also inducted into the Virginia Tech Academy of Engineering Excellence in 2013. Not only is Maj Gen Dick an active member of Industrial and Systems Engineering Department’s but the corps as well. For many years he was the Corps’ Central Virginia Regional Coordinator where he presented the Corps’ scholarships to graduating High School seniors, attended college fairs and talked about the Corps at Senator Warner’s Annual Academy Day. He also supports the Corps with his VTCC Major General Dan Dick ‘70 ELS Scholarship.

After he retired from the AF he worked for General Dynamics and L-3 Communications for about six years before going the consulting route so he could move to Charlottesville.

2024 AVIATION WALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

LTC Mark Mamula

LtCol Mark Mamula, USAF - VPI 1975

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Bio: Lt Col Mamula graduated from Virginia Tech and the Corps of Cadets in 1975. Upon graduation, he chose to pursue a life of service by commissioning into the United States Air Force.  This led him to start his aviation career at Undergraduate Pilot Training, at which he was selected to fly the C-141 Starlifter. Following his completion of flight training in the C-141, he flew over 4,400 total hours, as a command pilot, an instructor pilot, and a nuclear airlift courier.   

While serving as a command pilot in the Lebanese Civil War, Lt Col Mamula earned the distinguished Air Medal while responding to the bombing of US Marines during the emergency airlift on 24 October 1983. After hearing of the incident, he and his aircrew immediately volunteered to assist with the emergency airlift, disregarding all personal and crew requirements to help the Marines in Beirut, Lebanon, without knowledge of current conditions of the airport and surrounding battle. Flying at night through both bad weather and constant threat of exposure from ground attack, Lt Col Mamula flew the aircraft blacked-out and was able to land safely at Beirut Airport, despite obstacles and rocket fire sighted two miles beyond. Once on the ground, their cargo was swiftly unloaded in complete darkness despite constant firefighting around them and the threat of a rocket or sniper attack. During unloading, one of the C-141's thrust reversers would not lock into place following the unload, forcing the crew to complete one hour of difficult maintenance while on the ground to shut off that engine and pin its thrust reverser, again in total darkness. To maintain safety during takeoff, Lt Col Mamula led his crew through a total blackout takeoff from Beirut Airport, and after stopping for fuel at a nearby naval station, arrived safely back at Rein Air Base after a 20-hour mission. Following his time in Beirut, Lt Col Mamula served as the Squadron Commander of the 19th Airlift Squadron at Travis Air Force Base and then concluded his career working at the Secretary of the Air Force Foreign Affairs in the Pentagon after 22 years of active-duty service.  

After retiring from the Air Force, Lt Col Mamula went on to serve in multiple civilian positions in the Aerospace Engineering field, to include working and developing systems with Aerojet Rocketdyne in Gainesville, Virginia, and is the co-author of Patent No. 9,726,115 B1; Selectable Ramjet Propulsion System, August 8, 2017. His love of aviation brought him to where his now, as an aerospace engineer specializing in aircraft propulsion systems, having earned both a Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech and a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Dayton.
 

2023 AVIATION WALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

LTC George Bourne

LtCol George L. Bourne, USAF - VPI 1973

Branch: U.S. Marine Corps

Bio: Lt. Colonel George “Les” Bourne Retired worked on the Taylor Farm outside of Richmond from 1964 till he decided to come to Virginia Polytechnic Institute at State University in 1968. Pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Forestry and Wildlife. He found time to work at what is now the Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport on the weekends working just under where now the Welcome to Virginia sign is hung. He spent his time moving planes around and refueling them. Also joining the Highty-Tighties drum line and working in the mess hall took up the rest of his free time. In 1973 he graduated with his Bachelors Forestry and Wildlife. He returned to the Taylor Farm till 1974 where he went to pilot training at Vance AFB in Oklahoma. At the end of the class in 1975 he found himself rated the second-best student but, with only one fighter to choose from he was given the option to become a flight instructor. After moving to Webb Air force Base in Big Spring Texas he became acquainted with his new aircraft the Cessna T-37. When Webb was closed, he then went to Squadron Officer School in Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Les was faced with the decision of a “heavy” or a desk. Since no pilot wants to fly a desk, he headed to California where he came face to face with the heaviest of the heavy the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress, also affectionately known as the “BUFF” Big Ugly Fat Fellow. After a small stop in California to get familiarized with the Stratofortress it was then on the KI Sawyer AFB in Michigan. Then Transferring to Del Rio to and upgrading to the T-38. When the based closed he found himself on the Del Rio Police and earning his marksmanship rating. Then he was able to upgrade to San Antonio Texas to Randolph Air Force base to the T-38 training pilots how to become instructors of pilots. He then did a short tour in Biloxi, Mississippi. He the transferred back home to Randolph Air Force base where he later retired with 23 years of service. After being type rated in the Boeing 737. Les made a 2nd career of 18 years with United Airlines flying the McDonald Douglas DC-10, the Boeing 757, 767 and 777. In his time at United he found himself wanting to build his own aircraft. After much researching, he landed on the Vans RV-8 (N393LS). After 3 years on the nose the plane took flight. He has won Reserved Grand Champion at Sun ‘n Fun and bronze at Oshkosh raking him the 2nd RV-8 in the nation. He has held the training to fly a Pilatus PC-12, Citation 650 for corporate travel. His best friend owns a Mooney M20T, where Les spends a lot of time in instructing and flying. He has worked on over a dozen different builds with people just opening the box all the way thru test flying the plane for them. The last plane he helped build was a RV-10(N783V). You may know the tail number from YouTube. The RV-10 also received many awards like reserved grand at Sun ‘n Fun and Bronze at Oshkosh ranking number one RV-10 in the nation. Then won Grand Champion at Land of Enchantment. As of the time writing this Les has piloted 69 different aircraft. All around Les is a master pilot and a master craftsman. He has done Virginia Tech well by proving to the world Hokies can Fly!   

2022 AVIATION WALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Capt Clyde Bailey

Capt Clyde D. Bailey, USN - VPI 1967

Branch: U.S. Navy

Bio: Capt Bailey graduated from Virginia Tech and the Corps of Cadets in 1967. Upon graduation, he chose to pursue a life of service commissioning into the United States Air Force. Capt Bailey began his aviation career as a C-130B/E Pilot during the Vietnam War. He was based out of Tan Son Nhut in Saigon for over 16 months, racking up 582 combat hours in the C-130E. After he had the opportunity to become an instructor pilot in theater and prepare Airmen for combat. After flying in Vietnam, Capt Bailey joined Eastern Airlines as a commercial pilot and still served in the West Virginia Air National Guard participating in the air mobility mission for a little over four years. Capt Bailey’s service did not stop when he was out of uniform. While in a layover in 1993, Capt Bailey’s hotel caught on fire. After he initially made it outside, he realized that his flight crew was still inside, and rushed into the building to ensure they made it out alive. Not only that, he has also helped raise a great family that has also led a life of service. Capt Bailey perfectly embodies the ideals upon which the Aviation Wall of Fame was founded over two decades ago. As an aviator he is not only committed to the advancement of his field but also the concept of Ut Prosim. Capt Bailey has also spent time giving back to Virginia Tech serving on the Distinguished Alumni Board for VT College of Liberal arts and human sciences. Constantly working to inspire and teach the next generation of leaders and aviators in the pursuit of excellence and innovation  

2021 AVIATION WALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

CDR Alex C. Rucker, USN (ret.)

LtCol Jay D. Borella, USMC - VPI 1993

Branch: U.S. Marine Corps

Bio: LtCol Borella graduated from Virginia Tech and the Corps of Cadets in 1993. Upon graduation he chose to pursue a life of service, commissioning into the Marine Corps through OCS. LtCol Borella spent 23 years  in the Marine Corps with 18 years in the cockpit of the AH-1W super cobra. During his time with the Marine Corps he served on both active duty and in the reserves. He was chosen as a weapons and tactics instructor, helping to build up the next generation of Marine aviators at the highest level. Throughout his career in the Marine Corps LtCol Borella received the Distinguished flying cross, the single strike air medal, and multiple air medal citations. After the Marine Corps, LtCol Borella went on to serve in the Department of Homeland Security as an Air Interdiction officer where he continues to work to this day. Having accrued over 7000 flight hours in 26 aircraft LtCol Borella remains humble as he continues to serve our country as a professional aviator. LtCol Borella perfectly embodies the ideals upon which the Aviation Wall of Fame was founded over two decades ago. As an aviator he is not only committed to the advancement of his field but also the concept of Ut Prosim. Constantly working to inspire and teach the next generation of aviators in the pursuit of excellence and innovation LtCol Borella is someone who can inspire us all. 

2019 AVIATION WALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

CDR Alex C. Rucker, USN (ret.)

Commander Alex C. Rucker, USN (ret.) - VPI 1965

Branch: U.S. Navy

Bio: Commander Alex C. Rucker graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science in Geophysics. Upon graduation Commander Rucker earned his  commission into the Navy and attended the US Naval School of preflight before attending specialized training for his airframe, the F-8 Crusader. Commander Rucker completed three combat tours in Vietnam in the F-8 Crusader in support of operations Rolling Thunder and Linebacker II. During one of these tours in 1968, Commander Rucker assisted his wingman in a successful Mig-21 engagement. Later, Commander Rucker also served as a TOPGUN instructor of advanced air combat tactics in anticipation of the introduction of the F-14.  

Rattler
RFSS with CDR Rucker

AVIATION WALL OF FAME INDUCTEES PRIOR TO 2019

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Bio: Major General McMullen graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, then again in 1986 with a Masters in the same field of study. He received his commission through Officer Training School in March 1988. He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and also served as an instructor pilot there. In 2001, he attended the Air Force School of Advanced Airpower Studies at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and also graduated from the National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., in 2006. He is a command pilot with more than 3,000 hours in the F-15C, F-22A, MC-12W and the C-130J.

 

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Bio: General Everhart received his commission in 1983 through the Air Force ROTC program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is a command pilot with more than 4,700 flight hours in numerous aircraft including the C-130E/H, C-17A, C-21A and KC-46A. He was the Air Force aide to the president of the United States and has commanded a squadron, group, wing, air operations center, two numbered air forces, and a major command. General Everhart has served in several senior staff positions at the White House, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, U.S. Transportation Command, and Headquarters Air Education and Training Command. Prior to his current assignment, General Everhart was the Commander of Eighteenth Air Force, the Air Force’s largest numbered Air Force.

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Bio: Brigadier General Young enlisted in the Air Force in October 1967, then was commissioned upon completing Officer Training School as a distinguished graduate in September 1968. He flew 150 combat missions over Southeast Asia during several temporary duty assignments, served on the faculty of the Air War College and held a staff position at the U.S. Army's Forces Command.

 

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Bio: Lieutenant General Travis entered the Air Force in 1976 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He was awarded his pilot wings in 1978 and served as an F-4 pilot and aircraft commander. The general completed his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences School of Medicine, where he was the top Air Force graduate, and in 1987 he became a flight surgeon. For more than three years, General Travis was Chief of Medical Operations for the Human Systems Program Office at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. He later served as the Director of Operational Health Support and Chief of Aerospace Medicine Division for the Air Force Medical Operations Agency in Washington, D.C. 

 

Bio: Dr. Kurzhals graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1960 and has been a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) for 52 years. He has served on the Institute’s Technical Activities Committee (TAC) from 1989 to 2002 in various roles, including TAC Program Coordinator for Space Station and Director of Space and Information Systems. Dr. Kurzhals received a sustained service award from AIAA on September 28, at an awards luncheon held in conjunction with the AIAA SPACE 2011 Conference & Exposition. Kurzhals was recognized for his “half a century of dedicated service to the AIAA, including active participation at the student, section and national level with major aerospace contributions.”

For more info on Dr. Kurzhals, please click here.

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Bio: Colonel Frank Ayers graduated from Virginia Tech and the Corps of Cadets in the Spring of 1974. Upon graduation, he entered active duty in the United States Air Force serving as a B-52 Pilot, Instructor Pilot, Commander of the 329th B-52 Combat Crew Training Squadron, Commander of Camp Phillips, Guantanamo Bay Cuba, Commander of the 37th Combat Support Group, and Chief of Joint Military Education Policy at the Pentagon, among other assignments.

     Upon his retirement from the Air Force in 2000, Colonel Ayers joined Embry Riddle Aeronautical University as a Professor of Aeronautical Science. He was the recipient of the University Aviation Association's 2005 Frank E. Sorenson Award, for "the professional educator who has made substantial contributions to the field of aviation research and scholarship."  In 2009, Dr Ayers became the 7th Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of the Prescott Arizona Campus, of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. In 2019, he returned to his first love, teaching, as a full time professor.

     Dr. Ayers has earned a B.A. in History from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, an M.S. in Aviation Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an Ed.D. from Nova Southeastern University. He is a graduate of the Harvard University, Senior Leaders in Government course and the University of Southern California, Aircraft Accident Investigation Course.  He is the holder of an Airline Transport Pilot certificate, with type ratings in the Boeing 757 and 767, and is a certified flight instructor. Ayers has logged more than 6,300 flight hours in a wide variety of aircraft types.

     Dr. Ayers has been married to his wife Debbie (a 1975 graduate and former Air Force officer, who was one of the first three women to enter the VTCC, and the first woman to receive a commission as a cadet) for over 44 years.

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Graduated: VPI 1954

 

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Graduated: VPI 1954

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Bio: A native of Virginia and a graduate of Virginia Tech, General Smith entered the Air Force in 1970 after completing Officer Training School. He has more than 13 years in command during war and peace. He commanded two fighter wings and led two air expeditionary force deployments to Southwest Asia: AEF III and the 4th Air Expeditionary Wing. He served as the Commander of 7th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces; Air Component Commander, ROK and U.S. Combined Forces Command Korea; and Deputy Commander U.S. Forces Korea. The general also served two tours at the Pentagon and was Commandant of the NATO School at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Commandant of the Air War College and Commander of the Air Force Doctrine Center. Prior to his current assignment, he was Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

Branch: U.S. Marine Corps Reserves

Graduated: VPI 1948

 

Branch: U.S. Army Reserves

Graduated: VPI 1960

 

Branch: U.S. Army Air Corps

Graduated: VPI 1945

For more information about Mr. Lee, please click here.

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Bio: Major General Smyth received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University in 1949. He went on to accrue over 7,000 hours of flying time in over 60 aircraft. The aircraft included military fighter planes, interceptors, transport, troop carrier, tanker, rotorcraft-helicopter and FAA commercial planes. During his military career he served in Korea, Japan, SE Asia and Europe. From 1967 to 1977 he completed twenty-five deployments to Europe serving as either the Operations Officer or Commander of Operation Creek Party. He was in continuous flight status from 1951 to 1984.

 

Branches: U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force

Bio: General Richards' military career began with the Army infantry in 1948. He served as a platoon sergeant during the Korean War and was wounded twice. He received a commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1956. General Richards entered pilot training and earned his wings at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, in 1957. After combat crew training he was assigned as a B-47 co-pilot with the Strategic Air Command's 19th Bombardment Wing, Homestead Air Force Base, Fla., from December 1958 to February 1961.

 

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Graduated: VPI 1949

Branches: U.S. Army Air Corps/ U.S. Air Force

Graduated: VPI 1939

Branches: U.S. Army Air Corps/ U.S. Air Force

Graduated: VPI 1959

Bio: Major General Kucheman was born in Baltimore, Md., in 1919. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, Richmond, Va., in 1937, and then attended two years of study in engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He was employed for two years as a senior engineering draftsman, Virginia Department of Highways, Richmond, Va., then enlisted in the Army Air Corps in July 1941. After aviation cadet training at Hicks, Goodfellow, and Kelly fields in Texas, he received his pilot wings and commissioned as second lieutenant in February 1942.

For more information on Major General Kucheman, please click here.

Branches: U.S. Army Air Corps/ U.S. Air Force

Graduated: VPI 1941

Graduated: VPI 1961

Branch: U.S. Army

Graduated: VPI 1964

To learn more about this esteemed Virginia Tech graduate, please click here.

Branch: U.S. Army Air Corps

Bio: Second Lieutenant Robert Femoyer joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps as a private at Roanoke, Va., Nov. 11 1942. He was called to active duty the following February and took basic training at Miami Beach, Fla. He became an aviation cadet in July 1943. He failed pilot training at the Mississippi Institute of Aeronautics at Jackson, Miss., but in 1944, graduated from the Army Air Force Flexible Gunnery School at Fort Myers, Fla., and the AAF Navigation School at Selman Field, La. He went to the European Theater in September 1944 as a second lieutenant and was assigned to the 447th Bomb Group's 711th Squadron. Six weeks later, as navigator of a bomber on a mission near Merseburg, Germany, he was killed in action Nov. 2, earning the nation's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Second Lieutenant Femoyer is one of seven Medal of Honor recipients to have graduated from Virginia Tech. To read more about his story, please click here.

Branch: U.S. Navy

Bio: Lieutenant Junior Grade McKay was an American naval officer, World War II pilot, aeronautical engineer, and test pilot. He was one of twelve pilots who flew the North American X-15, an experimental spaceplane jointly operated by the United States Air Force and NASA. On September 28, 1965, he flew the X-15 to an altitude above 50 miles, thereby qualifying him as an astronaut according to the United States definition of the boundary of space. However, this altitude did not surpass the Karman Line, the internationally accepted boundary of 100 kilometers (62 miles). LTJG McKay graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. During World War II he served as a Navy pilot in the Pacific Theater, earning the Air Medal and Two Clusters, and a Presidential Unit Citation. 

To read more about LTJG McKay, please click here.

 

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Branch: U.S. Navy

Bio: Lieutenant Junior Grade McKay was an American naval officer, World War II pilot, aeronautical engineer, and test pilot. He was one of twelve pilots who flew the North American X-15, an experimental spaceplane jointly operated by the United States Air Force and NASA. On September 28, 1965, he flew the X-15 to an altitude above 50 miles, thereby qualifying him as an astronaut according to the United States definition of the boundary of space. However, this altitude did not surpass the Karman Line, the internationally accepted boundary of 100 kilometers (62 miles). LTJG McKay graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. During World War II he served as a Navy pilot in the Pacific Theater, earning the Air Medal and Two Clusters, and a Presidential Unit Citation. 

To read more about LTJG McKay, please click here.

 

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