Douglas Matthews Inducted into International Air & Space Hall of Fame [USNA '67]

San Diego, California-The International Air and Space Hall of Fame announces that Douglas G. Matthews will be inducted on Saturday, November 21st.

Doug Matthews, USNA Class of 1967, will join the over 200 other members of the Hall of Fame, who include Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong and USNA Alumni Astronauts Wally Shirra ‘45, Bill Anders ’55, Jim Lovell ’52, Alan Shepard ’45, Charlie Duke ’57 and Fred Trapnell ’23.

Matthews is a 28,000-hour pilot, accomplished aviation entrepreneur and philanthropist whose career has been defined by innovation and a pioneering spirit. A highly decorated Vietnam veteran, Matthews served as an F-4 Phantom fighter instructor in the Navy before launching his parallel careers in aviation and business. Among his many endeavors, he founded an airliner leasing company, which grew to more than $1 billion in assets. He also founded the first major Contract Air Services company - Flight International-which would eventually start the first contract Aggressor Aircraft program, now a multi-billion-dollar industry, for the U.S. Navy. He has set more than 100 U.S. and World aviation records including the world’s altitude record (props). Matthews spent his career advancing aviation through entrepreneurial innovation and an unwavering commitment to excellence and philanthropy. Matthews is an enshrinee in the Georgia Museum of Aviation Hall of Fame and a Brewer Trophy recipient.

The International Air and Space Hall of Fame is hosted by the San Diego Air and Space Museum in San Diego, California.

For more information contact David Neville, San Diego Air & Space Museum, (619) 234-8291, Ext. 140, [email protected]. For tickets or sponsorships, contact Michelle Wiseman, Ext. 109; [email protected].

BZ '67!