Program Chairman
At the program's inception EAA decided to recruit a well-known person to act as Chairman and raise the profile of the program. The program's founding chairman was actor Cliff Robertson who served in that capacity from 1992 to 1994. Robertson was succeeded in 1994 by retired USAF General and test pilot Chuck Yeager, the first person to intentionally fly faster than the speed of sound. Yeager stepped down as chairman in 2004 and, in March 2004, actor and pilot Harrison Ford became Chairman of the Young Eagles program. Ford has flown more than 300 Young Eagles in several airplanes. Ford finished his five-year term in 2009.
In September 2009, Captain Chesley Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles who became famous in the US Airways Flight 1549 Hudson River ditching on 15 January 2009, were named as the program's new co-chairmen.
Read more about this topic: Young Eagles
Famous quotes containing the words program and/or chairman:
“George Shears ... was hanged in a barn near the store. The rope was thrown over a beam, and he was asked to walk up a ladder to save the trouble of preparing a drop for him. “Gentlemen,” he said, “I am not used to this business. Shall I jump off or slide off?” He was told to jump.”
—For the State of Montana, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“You know, when these New Negroes have their convention—that is going to be the chairman of the Committee on Unending Agitation. Race, race, race!... Damn, even the N double A C P takes a holiday sometimes!”
—Lorraine Hansberry (1930–1965)