Thursday, November 12, 2026

From Orbit to Runway: The Future of Flight in Motion

Honoring leaders shaping exploration, innovation, and global aviation

Captain William M. Shepherd - Spirit of Discovery Award

Captain William M. Shepherd, USN (Ret.) is a pioneering NASA astronaut, Navy SEAL, and engineer who commanded one of the most consequential missions in human spaceflight history: Expedition 1, the first crew to live and work aboard the International Space Station. A recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, Shepherd’s career reflects a rare combination of leadership, technical expertise, and service at the highest levels of both military and space exploration.

Born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and raised in Babylon, New York, Shepherd graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1971 with a degree in aerospace engineering. He went on to complete Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, serving with elite units including SEAL Teams ONE and TWO and Special Boat Unit TWENTY. Expanding his technical foundation, he earned both an Engineer’s degree in ocean engineering and a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Selected as a NASA astronaut in 1984, Shepherd brought a unique background to the astronaut corps as its first non-aviator military trainee. His early NASA work included helping direct underwater recovery operations following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster—a role that drew directly on his SEAL experience. He later flew as a mission specialist on three Space Shuttle missions, contributing to Department of Defense payload operations, the deployment of the Ulysses solar probe, and important microgravity research.

From 1993 to 1996, Shepherd played a key leadership role in the development of the International Space Station, serving as Program Manager and Deputy Program Manager during its formative years. In 2000, he was selected to command Expedition 1, launching aboard Soyuz TM-31 with Russian cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergey Krikalev. Over nearly five months in orbit, Shepherd led the activation of the station’s core systems, transforming it from an assembly of modules into a functioning laboratory and permanent human outpost in space. His leadership set the foundation for more than two decades of continuous human presence aboard the ISS.

Over the course of his NASA career, Shepherd logged more than 159 days in space. Following his return, he continued to serve the nation, contributing to advanced program development for Naval Special Warfare and later serving as the first Science Advisor to U.S. Special Operations Command. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 2002.

Captain Shepherd’s legacy is one of firsts—first commander of the ISS, first Navy SEAL astronaut—and of enduring impact. His work helped establish the framework for international cooperation in space and continues to influence the future of exploration beyond Earth.

Robin Hayes - Leroy R. Grumman Award

Robin Hayes is the Chairman and CEO of Airbus in North America. He is responsible for Airbus’ commercial aircraft and commercial services businesses throughout the Americas, as well as coordination with Airbus Helicopters, the company’s market-leading helicopter business, and Airbus U.S. Space & Defense. 

With thousands of employees, Airbus’ regional presence comprises corporate offices, engineering and innovation centers, training facilities, MROs, spare parts distribution centers, imagery drone services and large-scale manufacturing facilities producing commercial aircraft, helicopters and satellites.

Bringing more than 30 years of global aerospace experience to Airbus, Robin also chairs Acubed by Airbus, the company’s Silicon Valley-based innovation arm; is a board member of Airbus Ventures, which invests in early-stage technologies across the globe; and is a member of the Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Board – a multibillion-dollar joint venture between Airbus and the Province of Quebec to procure parts, assemble and market the world’s most modern commercial aircraft, the A220.

Prior to joining Airbus, Robin served as Chief Executive Officer of JetBlue Airways Corporation for nine years. He joined the airline in 2008, serving as the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer until becoming President of the airline in January 2014. He was appointed as JetBlue’s third chief executive officer in February 2015.

Before JetBlue, Robin spent 19 years at British Airways, where he ascended to the position of Executive Vice President for the Americas. He held a variety of roles of increasing responsibility in operational and commercial divisions, including frontline customer service, leading the airline’s leisure department and general manager for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

From 2020 to 2022, Robin was the Chairman of IATA’s Board of Governors, where he championed the air transport association’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. He currently serves on the board of directors for KeyBank and Make-A-Wish Connecticut.

Robin is a University of Bath alumni, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Masters in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. 

A U.S. citizen since 2012, Robin and his wife have residences in Virginia and Connecticut and have three grown children.

Steve Thody - Aviation Leadership Award

Steve Thody is a Vantage Group senior executive and the Chief Executive Officer of JFK Millennium Partners, the Vantage company managing JFK International Airport’s Terminal 7 and redeveloping the new Terminal 6. Steve is responsible for all facets of operations and management of Terminal 7 and the future Terminal 6, including terminal operations, airline relations, commercial management, and guest experience. He has more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in aviation, spanning global cargo operations, network airlines, airport management, investment, development, and finance.

Steve previously worked as Vantage’s Project Director, Strategic Initiatives, overseeing partnerships, products, and initiatives to optimize terminal operational and revenue opportunities at Vantage’s airports.

Before joining Vantage, Steve held several senior roles at British Airways, including Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis, where he was responsible for North America, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Pacific, and General Manager of British Airways’ Terminal 7 operations at JFK.