Meritorious Service To Aviation Award Recognizes Cernan's Tirelessness In Promoting Aerospace To Be Presented At 2013 Convention

The NBAA will present astronaut Eugene "Gene" Cernan, the “last man on the moon” and a frequent participant in NBAA events and programs, with the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award during a presentation at the association’s 2013 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition. The Meritorious Service to Aviation Award, which is the business aviation industry’s most distinguished honor, recognizes Cernan's extensive contributions to furthering achievements in aviation and aerospace.

A career U.S. Navy aviator, Cernan flew into space three times over his 13 years with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), first serving as pilot of the Gemini 9 mission (1966) that furthered NASA’s understanding of the techniques required for extra-vehicular activities. He later flew two trips to the moon, serving as lunar module pilot of Apollo 10, NASA's final proving mission for the vehicle and procedures to be used for the Apollo moon landings, and as commander of Apollo 17, NASA's final manned moon mission, in 1972.

Cernan retired from the Navy as a captain, and from NASA, in 1976. He holds the distinction of being the last NASA astronaut to walk on the moon's surface, an experience he says has driven and inspired him throughout all of his subsequent endeavors.

"Gene Cernan often talks about the 'yearning restlessness’ that he's experienced since leaving the moon's Taurus-Littrow valley, and over the past 40 years he's channeled that energy into tirelessly promoting aviation interests, including business aviation, and humanity’s continuing presence in space,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We are pleased to present the NBAA Meritorious Service to Aviation Award to a champion of the global aviation community, and an inspiration to the next generation of aerospace pioneers.”

An accomplished pilot, Cernan is also a regular guest at NBAA's annual Conventions, where he frequently joins other legendary aviators in presenting the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s annual Combs Gates Award, which honors aviation history, research and preservation efforts.

Cernan was awarded a Wright Brothers Master Pilot Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during a presentation at NBAA’s 2010 Convention. He has been recognized with numerous other noteworthy honors, including the Navy Distinguished Flying Cross, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the FAI International Gold Medal for Space and NASA's first Ambassador of Exploration Award.

The NBAA Meritorious Service to Aviation Award recognizes extraordinary lifelong professional contributions to aviation. Recipients of the Meritorious Service Award are individuals and groups who built the aviation industry, including business aviation, and who have created an industry and a community around one common denominator – the miracle of flight.

(Image provided by NASA.)

FMI: www.nbaa.org/2013