Chief Executive Officer, Omaha Airport Authority
Durham Lecture Series 2026
Join us on November 11, 2026, for the Durham Distinguished Guest Lecture Series, featuring guest speaker John Gross-Rhode. The lecture will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Strauss Performing Arts Center.
Durham Distinguished Guest Lecture Series
The Durham Distinguished Guest Lecture is an annual event hosted by the Aviation Institute. This event brings prominent leaders from the aviation industry to campus, offering students, faculty, and the broader community a unique opportunity to engage with experts and learn about the latest developments in aviation. Each year, the keynote speaker is a respected figure in the industry—whether an executive, innovator, or aviation pioneer. In addition to delivering the keynote address, the speaker is awarded the prestigious Bill Shea Award, which recognizes their outstanding contributions to the aviation field.
Named in honor of Charles Durham, a key supporter of the Aviation Institute, this lecture series reflects UNO’s commitment to providing educational enrichment and fostering meaningful connections between students and industry leaders.
Previous Distinguished Guests
Debby Rihn-Harvey, 2025
World Champion Aerobatic Pilot
Dave Roth, 2024
Lauris Mickelsen, 2023
Vice President of Safety and Compliance at airBaltic
Jamie Walker, 2022
Chief Executive Officer, Jet Linx Aviation
2024 - David Roth, CEO, Omaha Airport Athority
2024 – Lauris Mickelsen, Vice President of Safety and Compliance airBaltic and former UNO
Exchange Student
2023 – Steve McCoy, Madeline Sullivan, Sidney Due, Jen McIntyre – UNO Alumni Panel
2022 – Jamie Walker, CEO Jet Linx Aviation
2021 – Did not Host the Durham Event
2020 – Did not Host the Durham Event
2019 – Did not Host the Durham Event
2018 – Mike McCasky, Managing Director of Flight Training, United Airlines
2017 – Rob Britton, Managing Director, Advertising, American Airlines
2016 – Did not Host the Durham Event
2015 – Dr. Rich Swazey, FAA and Former UNO Student
2014 – Did not Host the Durham Event
2013 – Mr. Stephen Forte, COO Virgin American
2012 – Ambassador Duane Woerth, ICAO
2011 – Robert “Hoot” Gibson, Retired NASA Astronaut
2010 – George T. Whitesides, President & CEO of Virgin Galactic
2009 – Catherine M. Lang, FAA Acting Associate Administrator for Airports
2008 – Colleen C. Barrett, President Emeritus Southwest Airlines
2007 – J. Robert Duncan, Duncan Aviation
2006 – Vern Raburn, Eclipse Aviation
2005 – Shane Osborn, Silverstone Group
2004 – Jack Olcott, General Aero Company
2003 – Tom D. Crouch, National Air & Space Museum Smithsonian Institute
2002 – Michael S. Kudlacz, TSA Security Director Omaha
2001 – Donald L. Smithey, Executive Director, Omaha Airport Authority
2000 – John Goglia, NTSB Board Member
1999 – Robert J. Gilliland, SR-71 Test Pilot
Col, Rich Graham, USAF (Ret.) SR-71 Pilot
Marta Bohn-Meyer, NASA Flight Engineer SR-71
1998 – Col. Robert K. Morgan, Memphis Belle Pilot
1997 – Daniel S. Goldin, NASA Administrator
1996 – Col. Francis S. “Gabby” Gabreski, US Army Air Forces and USAF Fighter Ace
1995 – Dr. Thomas Q. Carney, University of Purdue
1994 – Dick Rutan, Military Aviator, Test Pilot, and Piloted the Voyager Aircraft
1993 – Astronaut Wally Shirra, Naval Aviator, Test Pilot, Mercury Seven Astronaut
1992 – Captain Al Haynes, United Airlines Flight 232
1991 – Captain Mimi Tompkins, Aloha Airlines Flight 243
1990 – A. Scott Crossfield, Naval Officer and Test Pilot