The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) has announced that Scott McComb, Raisbeck Avation H.S. Science Department Chair, Founding Coach and Chair of the Washington State Science Olympiad, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA) Founding Advisor, and Green Energy Team Founding Advisor, has been selected as the 2019 A. Scott Crossfield Educator of the Year. McComb will receive the honor, including a $2,500 cash award, during the NAHF’s Enshrinement events in Denver, Colorado on September 27th and 28th.
The Crossfield Award, founded in 1986 by NAHF Enshrinee Scott Crossfield, is a juried annual competition to recognize a teacher for his or her exemplary use of aerospace in their classroom curricula. Crossfield, who was inducted in 1983, was a renowned test pilot, research pilot and aerospace researcher. His tests with pressurized suits led to the development of the space suit.
McCombs’ accomplishments include development of the program of Physics of Flight and Aerospace Engineering which provides students robust creative problem solving techniques using various materials. McComb’s curriculum includes many exceptional activities that are student-involved such as the Wing Beam where students design, built, and test the most efficient composite wing beam possible. Other programs include the design, build, and testing of heat shields; investigate and evaluate factors that affect take off performance in conjunction with flight test engineers; development, build, and testing of solar powered Martian rovers. Over the past fourteen years, McComb has been dedicated to continuing his own scientific and aviation academia by performing scientific research in the Arctic, obtaining his private pilot’s license, interning at both Boeing Flight Test and Blue Origin, and learning computational modeling in physics. He is a well-recognized and respected educator at one of the top college-prep STEM schools in the nation.
Terese Tipton, Principal of Raisbeck Aviation School, said of McComb, “Scott McComb has developed, enhanced and implemented an outstanding program of Aerospace Engineering education at one of the top college-prep STEM schools in the nation. He believes wholeheartedly in the power of encouraging and developing the unique talents of each of his students – he transforms students’ young minds from being hesitant, to being researchers and scientists.”
The presentation of the Crossfield Award will be made by 2001 NAHF Enshrinee Major General Joe Engle, USAF (Ret). The NAHF’s Enshrinement is open to the public and reservations are available by advance purchase. Nearly 1,000 people are expected to attend, including industry leaders and over a dozen returning Enshrinees, including Mission Control Specialist Gene Kranz, pilot astronaut Joe Engle, Apollo astronaut Walt Cunningham, space shuttle astronauts Charlie Bolden and Hoot Gibson, aviation visionary and test pilot Clay Lacy, general aviation titan Dale Klapmeier and Tuskegee Airman Charles McGee. NAHF candidates Rhea Seddon, Peggy Chabrain and Connie Tobias will also join the celebration this year.
The ceremony, led by emcee Matthew Burchette, features the formal installment of the NAHF Enshrinee Class of 2019; Colonel Guion “Guy” S. Bluford, USAF (Ret), Ph.D. aerospace engineer, fighter pilot, decorated Vietnam veteran, space shuttle astronaut; (the late) Colonel Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, USMC, Medal of Honor Awardee, “Flying Tiger” combat pilot, CO of the “Black Sheep Squadron”, WWII POW; Brigadier General Charles M. Duke, Jr., USAF (Ret), USNA graduate, NASA Group 5, CAPCOM Apollo 11, LMP Apollo 16, 10th person to walk on the moon; Martha & John King, 40 year veterans of aviation instruction, revolutionary pioneers of multimedia training programs; and (the late) Katherine Stinson, fourth female in the U.S. to earn a pilot’s certificate, founder of the Stinson School of Flying. The five inductees will bring the total number of NAHF Enshrinees to 246.
Sponsorship is available at all levels and, while limited, includes premium seating with other associated benefits; some levels include invitations to the President’s Reception. Committed sponsors to date include Cirrus Aircraft, United Airlines, GE Aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, FedEx, Scotts Miracle-Gro, Southwest Airlines, Williams International, GAMA, NBAA, CAE, and Perform Air International.
