Skydivers Honored at Hall of Fame Affiliate Spotlight Hour

Cliff Dobson accepts his 10,000-Jump Wings from USPA Executive Director Albert Berchtold and President Sherry Butcher. Photo by Javier Ortiz.

Above: The Affiliate Spotlight Hour begins with a flag jump featuring the six flags of the affiliate countries. Photo by Anthony Armendariz.

On November 7, during the International Skydiving Museum and Hall of Fame Weekend at Jump Florida Skydiving in Lake Wales, USPA and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (the World Air Sports Federation) honored four legendary skydivers during the event’s Affiliate Spotlight Hour. While the majority of the weekend focused on honoring those inducted into the Hall of Fame, USPA, as the museum’s host-country affiliate, had the opportunity during its spotlight hour to present other international and national honors to deserving figures in the sport.

First up on stage was Cliff Dobson, D-1193, who accepted his 10,000-Jump Wings from USPA Executive Director Albert Berchtold and President Sherry Butcher. The USPA Jump Wings, available in 1,000-jump increments to USPA members who have achieved those personal milestones, is one of the organization’s most sought-after awards. Though momentous for Dobson, receiving the 10,000-Jump Wings may not have been his most exciting moment of the weekend, since he was also inducted into the 2025 Skydiving Hall of Fame.

Following the Dobson presentation, Berchtold and Butcher welcomed FAI President Greg Principato to the stage. Principato flew to the event so he could bestow in person two very prestigious FAI awards on USPA members. The FAI chose the late Col. Joseph Kittinger, the legendary jumper who held the world record for high-altitude skydive (102,800 feet) for more than 50 years, to receive its FAI Air Sport Medal for “for outstanding services in connection with air sport activities like work in FAI commissions, organizing World and Continental Championships, training and educating new pilots, or for promoting aviation in general, especially with regard to young people.” Alan Eustace, who set the high-altitude record of 135,890 feet in 2014, accepted the medal on Kittinger’s behalf.

Principato then presented Bill Booth, Mark Procos and other staff of United Parachute Technologies with FAI Group Diploma of Honor, which honors groups of people who “have contributed significantly to the progress of aeronautics and astronautics during the previous year or years.” USPA nominated UPT for the award for being “a driving force in advancing the safety, performance and accessibility of skydiving equipment worldwide.”

Last but not least on the stage was Kim Emmons Knor, who accepted her 1,000-Jump Wings from Berchtold and Butcher. The presentation marked the end of Knor’s multi-year quest to make 1,000 jumps and earn the USPA “Gold Wings,” which is recounted in “Going for the Gold” in the January 2026 issue of Parachutist.