November is National Aviation History Month. The month-long observance honors the achievements and innovations in American aviation, including the people who made them possible. The celebration covers the entire history of flight, from its earliest forms, such as kites and gliders, to significant modern-day developments, innovations, and space exploration. It recognizes the importance of the aviation industry today, its role in society and the economy, and supports the work of those who maintain and advance it.
Since its foundation through an Act of Congress in 1964, the National Aviation Hall of Fame has fulfilled their mission to honor the men and women who have excelled in the field and who serve as a beacon and inspiration for future generations.
On September 19, 2025, the Hon. John Goglia was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame for his contributions to the aviation industry over the course of his career.
John is an internationally recognized aviation safety expert and the first FAA-certified aircraft mechanic appointed to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He began his aviation career as a licensed aircraft mechanic with United, Allegheny, and US Airways, later operating his own successful aircraft service company.
Between 1995 and 2004, he served as an NTSB board member, where he brought a maintenance perspective to accident investigations and championed airport safety, aircraft maintenance integrity, and family assistance initiatives. John played a pivotal role in raising awareness of aging wiring, crash rescue operations, and wildlife hazards at airports, thereby influencing international aviation safety standards. He was the recipient of the FAA Mechanic of the Year Award in 1994, a founding member of the National Coalition for Aviation Education, and the founder and President of the Aerospace Maintenance Council, amongst his many other accomplishments.
Ken MacTiernan, in his third-decade of service as an AMT (Aviation Maintenance Technician), attended the 2025 Aviation Hall of Fame Induction, and recently posted on the ‘Friends of Charles E. Taylor’ social media page that John is only the second person to be inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame as an AMT…with the first inductee being Wright Brothers mechanic, Charles E. Taylor. “He’s my friend, my colleague, and my mentor. John is bringing recognition and respect to all AMTs,’’ wrote MacTiernan
The Hon. John Goglia is an adjunct professor in the management department at Vaughn College School of Aeronautics in East Elmhurst, Queens, where he continues to share his knowledge with the next generation of aviation professionals. He continues to advance aviation safety through writing, consulting, and public speaking, and has authored several columns and books for leading aviation publications.
