Lt. Col. Bill Powley, a retired Air Force officer and mentor to thousands of Air Force Junior ROTC cadets, is the winner of the twenty-fourth annual A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Education Teacher of the Year Award.
The award was announced by the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio. It includes a $1,500 cash stipend.
Powley, a 1967 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, has flown supersonic fighters, has 347 combat missions, and is twice a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. As a leader of Junior ROTC units, he’s helped thousands of students take flight through innovative flight orientation programs and leadership.
After retiring from the Air Force, Powley began teaching JROTC at Unicoi County High School in eastern Tennessee. Powley has helped almost 4,000 students take orientation flights, has soloed 33 cadets, and has had a number of students go on to service academies and military service, or become professional pilots.
Alton K. Marsh
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