Tony Frazier Named 2026 Second Place National STEM Teacher of the Year

The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) and Rolls-Royce National Teacher of the Year program recognizes educators whose innovation, leadership, and passion are preparing students for future careers in aerospace and STEM. Anthony “Tony” Frazier, Aviation Technology instructor at Arlington Career Center in Arlington, Va., exemplifies that mission.

Named the 2026 Second Place National AFA/Rolls-Royce Teacher of the Year, Frazier has transformed a public high school aviation program into a proven pipeline for students pursuing military service, collegiate aviation, commercial flight, and the rapidly growing unmanned aircraft systems industry.

A retired U.S. Air Force technical sergeant with nearly 20 years of military service, Frazier has spent the past nine years bringing decades of aviation, leadership, and instructional experience into the classroom with the goal of making aviation accessible to every student.

“I want students to see that aviation isn’t just something to watch—it’s something they can become part of,” Frazier said.

That philosophy shaped one of Virginia’s most respected high school aviation programs. Through an FAA-aligned curriculum, advanced flight simulation, industry partnerships, and authentic flight experiences, students gain the knowledge, confidence, and skills to pursue aviation careers many never imagined were within reach.

“I am living proof of what early access to aviation education can make possible,” said former student Drew Henderson, now a senior first officer for Delta Air Lines. “Tony Frazier is ensuring today’s students have that same opportunity.”

Building America’s Aviation Workforce One Student at a Time

Graduates of the program have earned appointments to the U.S. Naval Academy, entered Navy flight training, enrolled in premier collegiate aviation programs, earned FAA pilot certificates, secured airline internships, and launched careers across the aviation and aerospace industry.

“Tony isn’t simply teaching aviation—he is building future Airmen, Guardians, and aerospace professionals through a model already delivering measurable results,” said Darian Padilla, president of AFA’s D.W. Steele Chapter.

Equally important, Frazier has demonstrated that exceptional aerospace education does not require a dedicated airport campus or fleet of aircraft. Built within a traditional public high school, his program has become a model for expanding aviation education through collaboration, creativity, and community partnerships. Strong student demand has even prompted Arlington Public Schools to expand the program with additional flight simulators, increasing access for future aviators.

Even beyond the classroom, Frazier is a living symbol of AFA’s mission pillar of education. As the Vice President for Aerospace Education at AFA Steele Chapter, he connects students with aviation professionals, military organizations, industry leaders, and higher education partners. His annual aviation and STEM career event introduces hundreds of students to the opportunities shaping America’s aerospace enterprise.

He also mentors fellow educators, helping school systems establish aviation programs by sharing curriculum, instructional strategies, and program development expertise. His willingness to help others replicate his successful model is multiplying opportunities for students far beyond Arlington.

“Mr. Frazier’s program is among the most effective in our division, producing documented outcomes from a public high school model that any district in America can replicate,” said Francisco Durán, superintendent of Arlington Public Schools.

In 2026, the Arlington Career Center Aviation Program received Virginia’s Creating Excellence Award for Secondary Career and Technical Education, recognizing its innovative approach to workforce development and career readiness. Frazier was also selected for the Air Force Office of Scientific Research STEM Teacher Leadership Academy and honored nationally through the Pete & Thomas Foundation’s Best in Class educator program.

“Selecting Tony Frazier would do more than recognize an outstanding educator,” said Mike Maxwell, Virginia AFA State President. “It would elevate a proven model that directly strengthens America’s aerospace competitiveness and technological leadership.”

Ensign Nilah Williamson, USN, a former student and U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2025 graduate, returned to Frazier’s classroom last fall before reporting to Navy pilot training at Pensacola, Fla. “His teaching is the cornerstone of my flight career,” she said.

As a 2026 National AFA/Rolls-Royce Teacher of the Year award recipient, Frazier will serve as an AFA educational ambassador, sharing innovative practices that inspire students while strengthening America’s future air, space, and cyber workforce. Along with a $2,000 award, he will join the other national recipients in representing AFA at national education conferences. Frazier’s program shows how classroom teaching, community partnerships, and sustained student access build the aviation workforce America will depend on for decades.

The AFA Mary Anne Thompson/Susan Mallett National Aerospace/STEM Teacher of the Year program is proudly sponsored by Rolls-Royce.