The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) has announced that Dan Mills, aviation educator at Elizabethton High School in Elizabethton, Tennessee, has been selected as the 2026 A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Educator of the Year.
With more than five decades of aviation experience, Mills has built one of the nation’s most impactful high school aviation programs, combining rigorous technical instruction with a deeply personal commitment to mentorship, integrity, and character development. Since joining the Elizabethton City School System in 2010, Mills has developed six aviation courses, helped write the Tennessee state aviation education standards, and created pathways that allow students to solo aircraft and earn pilot certifications at exceptionally low cost through innovative community partnerships.
Mills’ program emphasizes not only aeronautical knowledge and flight proficiency, but also personal responsibility and decision‑making. His curriculum challenges students to become individuals of integrity while preparing them to pass the FAA Private Pilot written exam and solo in a Cessna 172 in under 12 hours of flight instruction. Many of his former students have gone on to careers as airline pilots, flight instructors, air traffic controllers, and aircraft mechanics.
“This award is incredibly humbling,” said Mills. “Aviation has given me a lifetime of purpose, and to be able to share that passion with young people, helping them believe in themselves, make wise decisions, and pursue their dreams, has been the greatest privilege of my career.”
Lt Col Herbert W. (Bill) Powley, USAF (Ret.), President of the FLIGHT Foundation and Crossfield Kid #24, nominated Mills for the award and has worked closely with him for more than a decade.
“Dan Mills is far more than an aviation instructor. He is a mentor, role model, and life‑changing influence for his students,” said Powley. “I have never known anyone more committed to helping young people reach their potential, both in the cockpit and in life. His impact will be felt for generations.”
Mills’ dedication has earned him widespread recognition, including his induction into the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame in 2025 and the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50 years of exemplary service in aviation safety. His classroom innovations include the use of a full‑motion Redbird FMX flight simulator, providing students with advanced, real‑world training experiences typically unavailable at the high school level.
“Dan Mills exemplifies the spirit of the Crossfield Award,” said Monica Newman McCluney, NAHF Trustee and Head of U.S. Corporate Social Responsibility & the Embraer Foundation. “His unwavering commitment to education, safety, and character development reflects the highest ideals of aerospace education and demonstrates the profound impact a dedicated educator can have on the future of aviation.”
Mills will be honored at the President’s Reception on September 23, 2026, as part of the NAHF 62nd Enshrinement Dinner and Ceremony in Washington, D.C. Over 600 people— including aviation enthusiasts, industry leaders, and several returning Enshrinees—are expected to attend two days of events. The events are open to the public by advance registration only. For more information, visit nationalaviation.org or call 937-256-0944 ext.16.
