Robert "Hoot" Gibson, Captain USN (retired) joined the National Aviation Heritage Invitational as the first official Ambassador on December 21, 2004. Gibson is highly distinguished in the aerospace industry. Having graduated from the California Polytechnic State University in 1969, with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, Gibson served in the US Navy as a Test and Fighter pilot. He is a graduate of the highly acclaimed US Navy Fighter Weapons School, "Top Gun", and served combat missions in Southeast Asia.
Gibson was an Astronaut and Space Shuttle Commander between 1978 and 1995. He flew 5 successful missions with satellites, DOD payloads, and Science Laboratories, commanding four of them. Gibson has logged more than 11,000 hours flight time in more than 50 types of civilian and military aircraft, of which more than 9000 hours are jet and rocket powered.
Amongst other recognitions, Gibson performed the first ever docking with Russian "Mir" Space Station, participated in the investigations following the Space Shuttle Challenger accident and is a recipient of numerous NASA awards and military decorations. Gibson currently is a commercial airline pilot for Southwest Airlines, is married to Astronaut Margaret Rhea Seddon, M.D., and a proud farther of four.
Hoot is a 2013 Enshrinee of the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
Ken Perich is the Executive Director and a co-founder of the National Aviation Heritage Invitational LLC (NAHI). NAHI, which was established by Rolls-Royce, The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Aviation Hall of Fame and the Reno Air Racing Association, for the expressed purpose of promoting the preservation of aviation history and encouraging students to pursue careers within the aviation industry.
Ken spent his career within the aviation industry and retired from Rolls-Royce North America as Vice President - Sales and Marketing. Ken joined Rolls-Royce North America in 1988 and has also held the positions of; Vice President - Market Development, Customer Business Executive and Director- Airline Marketing. During his long career with Rolls-Royce, he has been responsible for over $10 Billion in new aero engine sales and aftermarket services. He has also held sales, marketing and management positions with AAR, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Honeywell Aerospace and Quasar Data Products.
Ken holds a Commercial pilot's license with Single Engine Land, Single Engine Sea, Multi-engine Land, Multi-engine Sea and Instrument ratings. In addition, he holds type ratings in Cessna Citations and Lear Jets, which qualify him to fly over 11 different models of corporate aircraft. Ken is an Advanced Ground Instructor and also completed Boeing's flight training program on the 757/767 series of aircraft.
He is a former Trustee of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, an Advisor to the German American Aviation Heritage Foundation, an Advisor to the General George C. Marshall International Center, a founding contributor to the Careers in Aviation video series program created by the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT). Ken served two terms as a Trustee of the ISTAT Foundation. In addition to flying, Ken enjoys snow skiing, sailing and scuba diving.
Ron Kaplan is one of the National Aviation Heritage Invitational's original founders. At that time he was serving as Development Director of the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF), and thus served a vital role in coordinating the participation of NAHF enshrinees in NAHI from the start.
Ron's career in preserving America's aviation heritage is extensive and varied. From 1994-1998 he was the self-employed founder of Warbird Aviation Art, specializing in hand-painted flight jackets and nose-art replicated on scrap aircraft skin and actual aircraft. Among his clients were the Smithsonian Air & Space Society, Air & Space Magazine, Memphis Belle Memorial Association, Miss America P-51 Air Racing Team, NIKE, and others. A member of the USAF Art Program, one of Ron's jackets is on permanent display at the Pentagon.
In 2009, Ron left the staff of the NAHF to start a consulting firm whose services include producing the NAHF's annual enshrinement (the "Oscar Night of Aviation") and the formal ceremonies for the Army Aviation Hall of Fame and the NAHF, as well as coordinating several other prominent annual award programs. He is also founder and director of the Reel Stuff Film Festival of Aviation, dedicated to the development, creation, and public appreciation of aviation film and media. In 2016 he returned to the staff of the NAHF as Director of Enshrinement & Outreach, while continuing to consult part-time. Ron is a columnist for Warbird Digest Magazine, a founding contributor to www.allthingsaero.com, and his writing and photography often appears in a variety of other aviation publications.
Connie May is the Director of Communications for the National Aviation Heritage Invitational (NAHI)
May, based in Reno, Nevada has been with NAHI since 2002 and has a background in broadcasting and advertising in the San Francisco Bay Area and Nevada. May has written articles ranging from business profiles to feature articles in local publications and aviation related publications and websites. She is an active member of Roadrunner's Internationale. "those who worked in secret during the Cold War, developing, testing and flying the U-2 and A-12 at Groom Lake (aka Area 51) Nevada. She has participated in Roadrunner Events including the A-12 Oxcart legacy Tour visiting various government agencies in 2010 and events at aviation museums.
Her real love is telling the story of the people, past and present that make things happen in the aviation community. She has the highest regard for our aviation pioneers and the sacrifices they made to protect us and give us a promising vision for the future. May feels very strongly about the preservation of aviation's national treasures and the dedication of the owners and restorers to the mission of keeping our history alive.
May's activities revolve around aviation as she has been an employee for Southwest Airlines since 2002.
A Denver native and student pilot himself, Jones has been a professional illustrator, fine artist, and graphic artist since 1983.
Since 2001, Joe's trail blazing aviation design and illustration work have landed him accounts with clients such as Adobe Systems, Rolls Royce, Frontier Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and the United States Air Force. Jones has also created national campaigns for Adidas, and has worked with performers such as Carlos Santana.
Over the past decade, Jones has been recognized and awarded as one of the world's top artists in the air show industry today, breaking all "ICAS" International Council of Air Shows, records in consecutively receiving the industries top honors for his 2004 and 2005 campaign for Nellis Air Force Base and Aviation Nation. Jones is the only aviation artist in the world to receive five first place ICAS awards in the industry. Chasing his dream, in 2004. As the official artist since 2004, Jones won the first ICAS marketing award for Rolls-Royce, and the National Aviation Heritage Invitational for "Tenth Anniversary" event poster he produced announced in 2008 at the ICAS convention in Las Vegas.
In 2007 Jones launched his 'all aviation' greeting card company, Airmail Greetings offering a wide range of products specific to the aviation industry.