The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) announced that Robert Sumwalt, former Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and world-renowned aviation safety champion, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy.
The Wright Trophy is awarded annually to a living American for significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States. Sumwalt is being honored for his more than four decades of exemplary service as an airline pilot, safety researcher, instructor, and federal leader, during which his relentless advocacy permanently transformed and elevated global transportation safety standards.
“The Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy celebrates those whose lifetime of devotion has left an indelible mark on the aviation industry,” said Jim Albaugh, NAA Board Chair. “Robert’s unparalleled commitment to developing proactive safety cultures, mentoring the next generation of aerospace professionals, and leading the NTSB with transparency and unwavering integrity embodies the very spirit of Wilbur and Orville Wright.”
Sumwalt’s distinguished career spans 24 years as a commercial airline pilot, logging over 14,000 flight hours, followed by pioneering human factors research with NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System. Appointed to the NTSB in 2006, he served as its 14th Chairman under multiple presidential administrations until his retirement from federal service in 2021. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, continuing his lifelong mission to ensure the skies remain safe for all who fly.
“To be counted among the pioneers and leaders who have received the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy is the honor of a lifetime,” said Sumwalt. “This recognition is a testament not to any single individual, but to the collective, enduring effort to make flight safer, more efficient, and more accessible. I am deeply humbled to accept an award that carries the name and spirit of aviation’s ultimate trailblazers.”
The Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy will be presented to Sumwalt at the Aero Club of Washington’s Annual Wright Memorial Dinner on December 17, 2026, at the Westin DC Downtown Hotel, Washington, D.C. Please see the Aero Club’s website for more information.
2026 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy Selection Committee
The NAA proudly recognizes the dedication of the 2026 Selection Committee members who presided over this year’s nomination process:
- Jim Albaugh – NAA Chair
- Ivon Aheart – Airlines for America
- Marsha & Enzo Baldonza – 2024 Wright Trophy Recipient
- Charles Bolden – 2020 Wright Trophy Recipient
- Nicola Fox – NASA
- Kali Hauge – Aero Club of Washington
- Jon Ostrower – The Air Current
- Simone Perez – Aerospace Industries Association
- Jim Sherman – American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
