National Naval Aviation Museum

About the Symposium

Since 1987, the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation has hosted its Naval Aviation Symposium each May in Pensacola. The Symposium series average nearly 3,000 guests annually, including active and retired flag and general officers and executives from the aerospace industry, as well as young naval officers, sailors and Marines undergoing aviation training in Pensacola. Activities include presentations and panel discussions, a golf tournament, luncheon, and a closing reception and banquet, as well as performances by the New Orleans Navy Band.

The goal of the symposium series is to help preserve the rich history and proud heritage of Naval Aviation by highlighting historical events in which U.S. Naval Aviation has played a major role. In past years, symposia subjects have included: the Battle of Midway; the Battle of Coral Sea; American Aces; Medal of Honor recipients; POWs; the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs; Flying Tigers and Black Sheep Squadrons; the Korean and Vietnam Wars; Operation Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom; Blue Angels and others.

The Foundation’s distinguished guest speakers have included former President Bush, Governor Jeb Bush, Senators John Warner, Jake Garn, Connie Mack and John McCain, Secretaries of the Navy Lehman, Webb, Garrett, Danzig and Winter, Under Secretaries of the Navy Hultin and Pirie, Chiefs of Naval Operations Boorda and Johnson, the Vice Chiefs of Naval Operations, Admirals Fallon and Mullen, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Jones and the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Nyland.