The State Aviation Journal in collaboration with the National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education (NCASE) has honored Captain Judy Rice with her soon to be induction as part of the EAA Memorial Wall in Oshkosh, WI. The ceremony will take place on Sunday morning, July 27th during EAA AirVenture 2025.
Judy Rice built partnerships across the world to help make a difference in the aerospace industry workforce and the education of students interested in technical fields. She was Founder and Captain of ThinkGlobalFlight, an around-the-world flight of adventure promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) education and inspiring students at each step in her journey.
Throughout her life, Judy had a passion for aviation and space technology. This passion, coupled with sixteen years as a teacher, eventually brought her into the field of aerospace education. She valued the experience gained as a special education specialist because it gave her a broad knowledge of the learning process.
She held the title as President of the National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education, an organization which represents government, industry, and labor; united to promote aviation and space education activities and resources; increase public understanding of aviation and aerospace educators; and support educational initiatives at the local, state, and national levels.
Her position with the X-Plane Flight Simulator Company provided the technological understanding necessary in today’s global society. Judy’s tenure with the Civil Air Patrol as the Deputy Director Aerospace Education and with the Experimental Aircraft Association as the Executive Director Youth Education involved a wide variety of skills, including collaborations with various national aerospace education organizations and coordinating the largest air show event in the nation for youth, KidVenture.
The National 4-H Aerospace Curriculum Project hired her to produce a series of publications that eventually involved 35 businesses and thousands of pre-college 4-H members. During the project, Judy learned to fly and became an instrument rated commercial, multi-engine, Citation type-rated pilot, advance ground instructor, certified flight instructor and logged thousands of hours in numerous aircraft. Captain Judy holds the world absolute NAA Speed Over a Recognized Course Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Reykjavik, Iceland and the FAI Circumnavigator Certificate.
Judy finished her storied career at Epic Flight Academy in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Flying and sharing the experience of flight with others is what motivated Judy each day. “l brought my world flight experience and knowledge as a flight instructor to each new student,” said Judy. Most students were not much older than 20, and for many, the first time away from home. “l was their first contact,” said Judy, “And many times also became mom.”
Seeing a student’s eyes light up as they understood a concept or gained confidence and watching them grow as a person and as a pilot was gratifying for Judy. No matter where in the world a student pilot may be from, Judy believed we all share the passion of the air. “Even in the harshest countries, aviation is an international shared joy.”
