The National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) is proud to announce the inaugural recipients of the NGPA Meritorious Service Award, a newly established honor recognizing members whose extraordinary service and enduring contributions have helped shape and strengthen the organization.
The NGPA Meritorious Service Award was created to acknowledge individuals who have shared their aviation industry expertise, demonstrated exceptional leadership, and shown a long-standing commitment to advancing NGPA’s mission.
This recognition celebrates members whose impact extends well beyond a single role or moment, reflecting years of service that have left a lasting legacy on the organization and its community.
“NGPA’s successes over the last 35 years reflect the commitment and dedication of hundreds of volunteer leaders. Some of those leaders, nominated by NGPA members, have had a lasting impact on our organization and our people. We’re so excited to celebrate their contributions to NGPA at our Winter Warm Up in February,” said Doug Carr, Chair of NGPA’s Board of Directors.
Recipients of the Meritorious Service Award exemplify visionary leadership, member-driven excellence, LGBTQ+ social responsibility, extraordinary commitment, and personal learning and development. Each honoree has demonstrated a sustained history of meaningful engagement with NGPA, serving in volunteer leadership capacities and contributing to initiatives that have advanced inclusion, visibility, and community within the aviation industry.
The first recipients of the NGPA Meritorious Service Award are:
- Dru Dunwoody
- Kyle Szary
- Kit Warfield
These inaugural honorees set a powerful standard for what the Meritorious Service Award represents: a deep commitment to service, a passion for uplifting others, and a lasting influence on NGPA’s past, present, and future.
The NGPA Meritorious Service Award will be presented annually, reinforcing the organization’s belief that honoring extraordinary service is essential to preserving its history while inspiring the next generation of leaders.
For more information about NGPA and its programs, visit www.ngpa.org.
