The Dee Howard Foundation celebrated a milestone on September 15, bringing together leaders from across the aerospace industry, education, government, and the San Antonio community at the Boeing Center at Tech Port for the 10th Annual San Antonio Aviation & Aerospace Hall of Fame Luncheon.

For a decade, the Hall of Fame has honored the pioneers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders whose contributions have shaped San Antonio’s aviation and aerospace story. This year’s celebration looked both backward and forward—honoring the legacy that built San Antonio while highlighting the students, educators, technologies, and leaders who will define what comes next.

Under the theme “Honoring the Legacy. Launching the Future.”, the 2026 luncheon brought those generations together in one room.

Honoring Three Generations of Aerospace Leadership

The 2026 Hall of Fame honored three individuals whose careers represent San Antonio aerospace’s past, present, and future:

• Aerospace Legacy Award — Dan Gonzales
• Aerospace Industry Impact Award — Mark Huffstutler
• Aerospace Hope for the Future Award — Joseph Hernandez-McCloskey

Dan Gonzales was recognized for a career spanning Kelly Air Force Base, StandardAero, and decades of leadership strengthening San Antonio’s aerospace industry and workforce. From beginning his career as a GS-5 engineer at Kelly to becoming one of the longest-tenured aerospace leaders in the region, his work has helped sustain critical military propulsion programs and create opportunities for generations of aerospace professionals.

Mark Huffstutler was honored for more than four decades of entrepreneurship and innovation in aviation. From earning his pilot’s license at age 16 and establishing the Uvalde Flight Center to building and leading aviation enterprises including Sierra Industries, SkyWay Group, and FlighTime Business Jets, his career demonstrates the impact that ingenuity, technical expertise, and entrepreneurship can have on an industry and a community.

Joseph Hernandez-McCloskey represented the next generation of San Antonio aerospace leadership. A San Antonio native, NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Fellow, doctoral researcher at UT San Antonio, and founder of PhiNyx Technologies, Joseph is helping advance rocket and space hardware while mentoring and creating opportunities for the engineers who will follow him.

Together, their stories demonstrated the continuum at the heart of the Hall of Fame: honoring those who built the foundation, recognizing those advancing the industry today, and investing in those who will lead it tomorrow.

The H-E-B Student Showcase: The Future Takes Center Stage

Before the luncheon began, the H-E-B Student Showcase transformed the Boeing Center at Tech Port into a hands-on exhibition of the talent emerging from San Antonio classrooms.

More than 45 students representing nine middle school, high school, and postsecondary programs shared aerospace, aviation, engineering, robotics, and drone projects directly with industry and community leaders. Students did more than display their work—they explained their designs, demonstrated technology, answered questions, and showed attendees what the future of San Antonio’s aerospace workforce already looks like.

The showcase also featured a live drone flight activation, bringing another dimension of hands-on aerospace learning into the event.

Students and programs represented schools and institutions from across the San Antonio region, demonstrating the breadth of aerospace learning taking place throughout our community.

Coverage from Telemundo San Antonio captured the excitement of the Student Showcase and highlighted how robotics, aviation, and hands-on projects are inspiring students to explore careers in technology and aerospace.

Telemundo San Antonio: Robótica y aviación inspiran a estudiantes en muestra de proyectos tecnológicos

Voices of the Next Generation and the Future of Space

Two voices helped connect the luncheon’s celebration of San Antonio’s aerospace history with the opportunities ahead: Somerset High School student Jonilia Arias and Texas Space Commission Chair Gwen Griffin.

Student Remarks
Jonilia Arias

Jonilia Arias, a student at Somerset High School in Somerset ISD, shared her perspective on what becomes possible when students are given opportunities to move beyond the classroom and experience aerospace firsthand.

Through her remarks, Jonilia reflected on her own experiences with hands-on learning and the people and opportunities that have helped her see new possibilities for her future.

Her message captured why the Hall of Fame exists alongside The Dee Howard Foundation’s educational work: the legacy of San Antonio aerospace matters most when it creates opportunities for the generation that follows.

Keynote Remarks
Gwen Griffin, Chair, Texas Space Commission

Gwen Griffin, Chair of the Texas Space Commission, delivered the 2026 keynote address, looking toward the rapidly expanding space economy and the opportunity for Texas—and San Antonio—to help shape its future.

Griffin discussed the convergence of aerospace, space, technology, workforce, education, and economic development and the importance of preparing talent today for industries that are evolving at extraordinary speed.

Her remarks challenged the audience to think beyond San Antonio’s historic aerospace strengths and consider how the region’s existing assets, institutions, workforce, and culture of innovation can position it to contribute to the next era of aerospace and space exploration.

Her message reinforced a central theme of the 10th anniversary celebration: San Antonio’s aerospace legacy is not simply something to preserve. It is a foundation upon which the community can build what comes next.

A Special Message from Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

The 10th anniversary celebration also included a special message from former U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, herself a member of the San Antonio Aviation & Aerospace Hall of Fame.

Senator Hutchison reflected on the significance of San Antonio’s aviation and aerospace legacy and recognized the individuals and community partnerships that have helped strengthen the industry across generations.

Her message provided a fitting connection between the history celebrated by the Hall of Fame and the responsibility to continue creating opportunities for the generations that follow.

The full letter is available below.

Celebrating Ten Years of the Hall of Fame

The 2026 luncheon marked ten years of the San Antonio Aviation & Aerospace Hall of Fame, first established to preserve and celebrate the extraordinary people behind San Antonio’s aviation and aerospace legacy.

Past Hall of Fame honorees were invited back for the anniversary celebration and recognized during the program, connecting a decade of honorees with the newest members of the Hall of Fame.

From the innovators who helped establish San Antonio as a center of aviation, to the civic and industry leaders who navigated the closure of Kelly Air Force Base, to today’s entrepreneurs, engineers, educators, and emerging space leaders, the Hall of Fame has documented a story that spans generations.

The anniversary also marked the beginning of the Hall of Fame’s next chapter: using that history to inspire young people to see themselves as part of San Antonio’s aerospace future.

A Community Celebration

The luncheon was emceed by Randy Beamer, host of KLRN’s On the Record, who helped guide guests through the stories and achievements of the 2026 honorees.

The program opened with the presentation of colors by the Edison High School JROTC and a performance of the National Anthem by McCollum High School Mariachi, further placing students at the center of the celebration.

Outgoing Dee Howard Foundation Board Chair Joe Fisher reflected on the Foundation’s growth and mission, while incoming Board Chair Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia looked ahead to the organization’s next chapter and the opportunities to expand its impact across the region.

Your Impact: Launching the Future

The Hall of Fame is a celebration, but its impact extends far beyond a single afternoon.

Proceeds from the luncheon support The Dee Howard Foundation’s work connecting students and educators with the aviation and aerospace industry through:

• Aerospace and drone classroom experiences
• Educator professional development and industry externships
• Student certifications and career exploration
• Project-based learning and internships
• Industry mentorship, job shadows, and workplace experiences
• Opportunities that connect classroom learning with real aerospace careers

The students who filled the Student Showcase are the reason this work matters.

The people honored by the Hall of Fame demonstrate what generations of talent, innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership have made possible in San Antonio. Our responsibility now is to make sure the next generation has the opportunity to build upon that legacy.

Thank you to our 2026 Title Sponsor, Port San Antonio, our H-E-B Student Showcase Sponsor, our Gold, Silver, Bronze, student table, print, and supporting sponsors, and every organization and individual who made the 10th anniversary celebration possible.

For a complete list of sponsors and supporting organizations, visit the 2026 Hall of Fame event page and Event Program.

Ten years of honoring the people who built San Antonio’s aerospace legacy have brought us to this moment. The next chapter is already being written by the students who will carry it forward.

Honoring the Legacy. Launching the Future.

For a full list of sponsors and supporting organizations, please visit the Event Program and 2026 event page

Watch the Honoree and full luncheon videos below.