For Immediate Release
June 17, 2010

Air Force Association and Dean Davis Recognized For Achievement in Aerospace Education

The Air Force Association and Dean Davis have each been selected to receive the 2010 Crown Circle Award in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the field of aerospace education. The awards will be presented at this year’s EAA AirVenture Teacher Day on July 26th in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The Crown Circle Award was established in 1979, recognizing performance and outstanding leadership in aerospace education. The award is one of the highest honors available in aerospace education.

Those seeking this honor must demonstrate involvement in and commitment to aerospace education as a local, national, or international leader in aerospace education. Their performance must exhibit high quality over an extended period of time. Induction may also be the result of exceptionally unique or extraordinarily outstanding achievement or contributions in aerospace education.

The Air Force Association (AFA) has supported and been a leader in Aerospace Education since its inception in 1946, beginning with AFA’s founding father General Hap Arnold, and its first president, Jimmy Doolittle.

The AFA is an independent, non-profit civilian education organization promoting aerospace education and public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. The AFA has continued this long tradition by more recently initiating three exciting new aerospace education activities: the Billy Mitchell Institute for Airpower Studies, the Elementary STEM Orientation Program, and CyberPatriot, the National High School Cyber Defense competition. AFA has shown consistent and enduring support for aerospace education for over 60 years and is aggressively pursuing new and innovative programs – today and for the future.

Dean Earl Davis, Senior Principal Aerospace Scientist-Engineer and Senior Study Leader for Boeing Phantom Works, Boeing’s Strategic Development and Experimentation (SD&E) organization is a highly-requested, motivational, aerospace STEM presenter who knows how to enthrall, inspire, and capture the interest of students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Dean supports aerospace education from within Boeing as the Education and Community Service Vice President for the National Management Association (NMA) and the Boeing Aerospace Leadership Chapter (BALC), where he develops, leads, coordinates, and delivers numerous youth aerospace education programs.

Mr. Davis is director for the California Space Authority (CAS) and for the California State Educational Workforce Initiative (CSEWI), where he helps develop aerospace education STEM plans for the State of California. At the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) he supports regional and national aerospace education STEM activities. He promotes aerospace education and STEM internationally as Vice President of the Satellite Educators Association (SEA) which teaches STEM to students by providing information regarding meteorology, oceanography, earth resources, and GPS topics. Dean is the aerospace education and STEM consultant to the international high school Conrad Foundation, Space Solar Power, and Human Space Colonization contests.

Dean Davis has earned numerous awards for his aerospace education volunteer and STEM efforts, as well as for his continual demonstration of technical expertise. Dean’s passionate dedication for aerospace education has inspired countless individuals over his 32 years of outreach.

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The National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education represents government, industry, and labor united to promote aviation education activities and resources, increase public understanding of aviation, and support educational initiatives at the local, state, and national levels. www.aviationeducation.org

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The AFA is a 501(C)(3), nonprofit organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. AFA has over 200 chapters nationally and internationally representing 120,000 members. Visit AFA www.AFA.org.

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