Dr. Frank G. Mitchell

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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Dr. Frank Mitchell

For over 30 years Dr. Frank Mitchell was responsible for developing and managing aviation education, training and marketing programs for Cessna Aircraft Company and Raytheon Aircraft Company. He was the first and, since then, the only individual in the General Aviation Industry who had successfully managed comprehensive training centers for the two leading companies. Also, in his industry career, he was successful in introducing and managing the Cessna Pilot Center program which was the industry's first franchised flight training system. He served 10 years as chairman of the Aviation Education Committee of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. He also was chairman of the Kansas Commission on Aerospace Education, an elected member of the National Society of Sales Training Executives and a past president of the University Aviation Association.

Frank joined Cessna in 1964 and initially directed the development of the industry's first comprehensive aviation education program. As part of his work he developed cooperative educational programs with 41 other organizations promoting aviation education. His efforts won him a national award in 1972 from the National Association for Industry Education Cooperatio.

Later, he received a number of other awards including the National Aeronautics Association Frank G. Brewer Trophy, The Aviation Technician Education Council, The University Aviation Association William Wheatley, and Alpha Eta Rho Awards.

After retiring from industry in 1997, Frank launched a second career teaching collegiate aviation education courses at five universities including Wichita State, Oklahoma State and Southeastern State. Currently (2002) he is an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Continuing Education. He also has had an active writing record authoring over 30 articles and papers published on aviation topics and was editor of Twin &Turbine Magazine.

In 1991 the Federal Aviation Administration published an extensive bibliography of aerospace materials and references that he developed covering a 25-year period. Beginning in 1991, he had published an annual national survey of secondary aviation magnet schools and in 2002 completed an update of his dissertation study of magnet school programs. While continuing an extensive writing and teaching schedule in 2003, Dr. Mitchell was a Board of Trustee member of the Council on Aviation Accreditation and the Aerospace Education Foundation (AEF) of the Air Force Association. Other responsibilities included Editorial Board member of the Journal of Air Transportation World Wide, membership on the UAA/CAA Collaboration task force and chair of the AEF Centennial committee.