Photos by Eddie Phillips.
On July 29, the National Aeronautic Association announced that it is honoring Mike McGowan, D-5709, with the 2025 Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award. The award, established in 1954, recognizes “outstanding living Americans who, by their efforts over an extended period of 
years, have made contributions of significant value to aeronautics and have reflected credit upon America and themselves.” Other recipients of the Statesmen and Stateswomen of Aviation Awards this year are Lisa Anderson Spencer, Nia Gilliam, Rebecca Lutte, Robert Sumwalt, Barbara Walter and Holly Woodruff Lyon.
USPA Nominated McGowan for this prestigious award to acknowledge his dedication to advancing aviation through a more than five-decade-long career in skydiving photography, and for sharing his wealth of knowledge with others. McGowan is one of the world's premier freefall photographers and videographers, and his work has appeared in numerous national magazines and television commercials. He was also the principal videographer for the world's first 100-, 120-, 144-, and 300-way formation skydiving world records, as well as numerous women's world records. He organized the first air-to-air video process for judging major competitions, was a pioneer in filming student jumps and performed research and development as a test jumper for several parachute-equipment manufacturers.
McGowan has also served the aviation community through service on the USPA Board of Directors from 2016 to 2025, where he contributed to key initiatives of the Governance, Membership, and Competition Committees. He is a recipient of the USPA Gold Medal for Meritorious Service and a member of the International Skydiving Hall of Fame.
McGowan will receive his award on September 13 during the closing ceremonies for the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale World Cup of Canopy Piloting, which takes place at Skydive Arizona in Eloy.