FAA Advisor Wins Brewer Trophy For Education

The National Aeronautic Association awarded the 2003 Frank G. Brewer Trophy for aerospace education to Phillip Woodruff, for nearly 40 years of work in promotion of aviation programs. Woodruff, 59, a senior manager with the Federal Aviation Administration headquarters in Washington, D.C. — has also held aviation education-related posts with the U.S. Air Force and Cessna Aircraft Company.

Woodruff’s greatest contributions have come as an aviation and space education advisor and program director, and in his work fostering lasting partnerships among government, industry and education. Since joining the FAA in 1986, his efforts led to the creation of new aviation education programs in every state, including over 100 Aerospace Education Resource Centers for teachers and over 100 Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academies for youth. His efforts to create partnerships between government and the aviation industry on education issues resulted in the creation of the National Coalition for Aviation Education (www.aviationeducation.org) in 1993. The NCAE partners with the FAA to support school initiatives at the local, state and national levels.

Woodruff initiated the annual National Aviation Magnet School Conference and was instrumental in growing participation in the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale's Young Artist Contest in the United States. This international contest encourages awareness of aviation by young people through artistic interpretations of aviation themes.

Woodruff served as a Congressional Fellow with Sen. John Glenn (D-Ohio) from 1986 until Glenn's retirement in 1998. During that time he aided Glenn with his aviation and education activities and fostered his legislative affairs concerning aerospace. Woodruff holds a commercial pilot certificate, with flight instructor, instrument and multi-engine ratings. He is veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division, and he is a member of the Aero Club of Washington, NAA, the Congressional Squadron of Civil Air Patrol and many other aerospace organizations.

Frank G. Brewer established the Brewer Aerospace Education Trophy in 1943 in honor of his two sons, Frank Jr. and Robert, and the million and a half other young people who served our country in aviation during World War II. The award is given annually to an individual, a group of individuals, or an organization for significant contributions of enduring value to aerospace education in the United States. A distinguished panel of NAA members and aerospace educators, assembled each year by the NAA president, selects the winner. NAA will present the award at a luncheon in Atlanta, GA, at the National Congress on Aviation and Space Education Conference on March 25, 2004.

FMI: www.naa-usa.org