Aviation Leaders Awarded – Who Received the Highest Honors?
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The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) has just announced the recipients of two of its highest honors at this year’s EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
James “Steve” Rutland has been awarded the 2024 Greg J. Laslo Excellence in Writing Award. A longtime contributor to NAFI publications, Rutland exemplifies the spirit of mentorship in flight instruction. Laslo served as NAFI’s editor from 2000 to 2011, and the award in his name has been presented since 2013 to a person or team who has made an exceptional contribution to NAFI publications.
With an impressive career spanning both military and civilian aviation, Rutland has accumulated 21,000 accident-free hours, including 18,000 hours as a flight instructor. His contributions to Mentor magazine have served as a valuable resource for countless flight instructors in the NAFI community.
Beth Stanton, NAFI’s director of publications and editor-in-chief of Mentor, praised Rutland’s dedication, stating, “Steve shares his vast experience and knowledge in multiple ways: in the cockpit, classroom, flight simulator, and in writing. He has served as a mentor to countless military and civilian flight instructors and continues that service through his articles in Mentor magazine.”
In addition, Samantha Bowyer has been honored with the 2024 Jack J. Eggspuehler Award for her outstanding service to NAFI. As an associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with expertise in business and project management, Bowyer joined the committee planning the inaugural NAFI Summit in October 2023. Her dedication and organizational skills were instrumental in the Summit’s success.
NAFI President Paul Preidecker commended Bowyer’s contributions, stating, “If we go back to the original summit, I knew we would need some help putting it all together. Samantha made her presence known, was willing to help, and was responsible for driving our path to success.”
