The National Aeronautic Association has selected Shelly Simi as the recipient of the 2021 Frank G. Brewer Trophy.
The trophy was established in 1943 to honor “… significant contributions of enduring value to aerospace education in the United States.” Past recipients include Senator Barry Goldwater, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s You Can Fly Program, and The Ninety-Nines.
Simi is being recognized for “… her professional leadership and unwavering dedication in promoting aviation and aerospace education through industry partnerships, workforce initiatives and organizations dedicated to aviation across the United States.”
Simi is a co-founder of the National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education (NCASE) which began as a partnership with FAA and other organization to create a clearinghouse of resources for teachers. She helped create the national learn-to-fly program “Be a Pilot” where more than 100 General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) members worked with other industry association groups to attract new pilots and reverse the trending decline in student starts. Simi also is a founding board member of Women in Aviation.