The USPA Board of Directors chose Bryan Burke, D-8866, to receive its prestigious Gold Medal for Meritorious Service. Every year, USPA presents a select few recipients with this award, which honors “outstanding Americans who, by their efforts over a period of years, have made significant contributions to the skydiving community.” USPA chose Burke to receive the 2019 Gold Medal based on his dedication to improving the safety of the sport by analyzing and sharing accident data and developing procedures for landing and airspace safety, as well as for serving as meet director for countless national and international competitions.

Bryan Burke has been a key figure in skydiving for more than three decades. He made his first jump in 1978 while a student at the University of Virginia and earned AFF, static-line and tandem instructor ratings. In 1990, he began working at Skydive Arizona in Eloy, where his job responsibilities have included everything from managing ground operations to fueling airplanes to running USPA National Championships. He also served for many years as a USPA Safety & Training Advisor and has quite possibly watched more parachute landings than anyone else in the world.

During his tenure at one of the world’s busiest skydiving centers, he has been a leading figure in improving the safety of the sport. He has collected and analyzed data for innumerable fatal and non-fatal accidents and willingly shared his findings with the skydiving community. He has written many articles on safety that have appeared both in print and online. He has been instrumental in helping jumpers understand safe landing patterns, as well as exit order and flight patterns for multiple aerial disciplines. He was the driving force behind the establishment of landing patterns and rules at Skydive Arizona that greatly reduced canopy collisions, and many other drop zones have incorporated his ideas into their landing protocols.

For more than 30 years, he has been willing to share his knowledge with all jumpers. He has had a profound impact on local skydivers, as well as skydivers from around the world who came to Skydive Arizona or met him as he traveled the boogie circuit each summer.

He has also served as meet director for countless USPA National Championships, USPA National Collegiate Parachuting Championships and Fédération Aéronautique Internationale World Championships and World Cups, providing meticulous planning and flawless organization.

Burke received his gold medal during the closing ceremony for the FAI World Cup held at Skydive Arizona in October. Drop zone owner and USPA National Director Larry Hill presented him with the award. After presenting Burke with his gold medal, Hill also announced Burke’s retirement from Skydive Arizona and presented him with his retirement present: a gold motorcycle.

George Hargis | D-36681
Flagstaff, Arizona