Samuel Don Don Smith

Don Smith soloed a Piper Cub on October 26, 1962. He retired as a Captain for Delta Air Lines on August 1, 2005. He has flown General Aviation, Air Force, Corporate, and Airline aircraft. As a safety advocate he has been involved in aircraft accident investigations, safety reporting systems, flight test, FAA and ICAO policy, and pilot training. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University, a Master of Science in Systems Engineering, and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree, both from the University of Houston. With over 23,000 hours and 138 aircraft models in his log book, he remains an active pilot in his Beechcraft V-35B Bonanza.

Among his awards, he considers the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50 years of safe piloting, the highest.