Studer Community Institute

Flight Academy campaign will double capacity, honor Jack Fetterman

October 10, 2014
/ Joe Vinson
/ entrecon

Vice Adm. Jack Fetterman did not live to see the National Flight Academy come to life. But Fetterman's widow, Nancy, said his spirit has always been part of the educational program that he helped conceive and led years of initial fundraising for before his death in 2006. Now supporters of Fetterman's vision are putting out the call to help the education experience for middle and high school-aged children reach a wider audience. The National Flight Academy hosted a “celebration cruise” Wednesday night aboard the virtual aircraft carrier Ambition, where NFA president Lt. Gen. Duane Thiessen announced a $2.5 million capital campaign to outfit the fourth floor of Ambition. The expansion would allow the Flight Academy to double its student capacity. “The National Flight Academy has become a success by every single measure you might want to use,” Thiessen said. “This year alone we put over 1,300 children through the program.” When the Flight Academy was built, the fourth floor was finished but not outfitted. Meeting the $2.5 million fundraising goal will provide lockers, beds and desks to the fourth floor staterooms; outfit three additional intelligence centers, operational centers and ready rooms; add more flight simulators; and upgrade the technology base that powers the simulators. “As you would imagine, if you’re going to be a technology leader, you have to update that base,” Thiessen said. The Flight Academy uses aviation and flight to give students an immersive educational experience that draws on the STEM disciplines — science, engineering, technology and math. Thiessen said that most of the nearly 3,000 students who have gone through the Flight Academy have been from the Pensacola metro areas. Increasing capacity will boost the academy's regional drawing power. Shelley Ragsdale, marketing director for the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, says the demand exists to bring more kids through the academy. “We need the community’s help to expand the program to be able to offer it to more students,” Ragsdale said. Nancy Fetterman has remained active with the Naval Aviation Museum and National Flight Academy and spoke to the evening’s attendees. “We are deeply grateful to the Pensacola community, and we think the Pensacola community will help us build this up to become an international place." Thiessen told the audience that the beneficiaries of Fetterman's vision will come. “I want you to help me get the support, finish this effort, and put Adm. Jack Fetterman’s name on this building where it belongs," he said.

Back to Blogs

Flight Academy campaign will double capacity, honor Jack Fetterman

Recent Posts