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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Dr. Frank Mitchell

Dr. Merv Strickler is the most distinguished proponent of Aviation Education in the 20 Century. Over the last 50 years, he has been involved in every major aviation education development project affecting the long-range growth of the aviation industry's manpower resources. His leadership through two key career jobs, as Director of Aviation Education, Civil Air Patrol Headquarters 1951-1960 and Chief of Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Education Programs 1960-1979, influenced administrators, teachers and students at every grade level to successfully match educational principles with aviation career needs.

Merv was the first person to receive an earned doctorate in Aviation Education awarded at Stanford University in 1951. His work in developing aviation programs included appointments as visiting professor to four universities and service to many other colleges and universities helping them to design aviation curriculums. During his career, he has written numerous articles, papers, monographs and books on a variety of aviation, aerospace education, safety and related topics including editor of the Teacher Introduction volume of the first Encyclopedia of Aviation and Space Sciences in 1968.

For his professional education work, he was named a "Gold Medal Educator of the 1970s" by Education Magazine, cited in the 1952 Frank G. Brewer Trophy presented to the Civil Air Patrol by the National Aeronautic Association and was personally presented the Brewer Trophy in 1966.

For his many areas of service, Dr. Strickler has received numerous awards from all areas of aviation including the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service, the FAA Award for Distinguished Service and the Nile Gold Medal by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI). The National Coalition for Aviation Education has named its aviation education award after Dr. Strickler which is presented annually at the National Congress on Aviation and Space Education.

As of 2003, Dr. continued to write, consult and participate in national and international aviation activities. He has been the only consultant to the National Coalition for Aviation Education since its founding. He is a consultant to the FAI and participated in the NAA sponsored Brewer Forums on the future of aviation education. In 2000, Dr. Strickler was awarded the NAA prestigious Elder Statesman of Aviation award. He is universally considered the senior authority on aviation education.