L. Welch Pogue Award Dinner
The prestigious annual L. Welch Pogue Award for lifetime achievement in aviation will be presented to Doug Parker, on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
Doug Parker joins a long line of preeminent L. Welch Pogue Award winners who have helped shape modern international commercial air transportation.
The L. Welch Pogue Award is jointly presented by the International Aviation Club and Aviation Week Network.
Schedule of Events
5:00 p.m. -- Registration Opens & Reception
6:30 p.m. -- Call to Dinner
6:45 p.m. -- Dinner and Presentations
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Doug Parker retired as Chief Executive Officer at American Airlines in March 2022 after 20 years in that role and as Chairman of its Board in April 2023.
He has more than 35 years’ experience in the airline industry, including previous roles as Chief Executive Officer at US Airways and America West Airlines. Notably, he became CEO at America West 10 days before the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 and he led the airline through that crisis.
Mr. Parker serves on the boards of Qantas Airways, Dublin-based leasing company AerCap, Vanderbilt University, and the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation.
In 2023, Parker and his wife Gwen launched Breaking Down Barriers, a non-profit organization that helps people in underserved communities become pilots.
Mr. Parker earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Albion College in 1984 and a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University in 1986.
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Registration will open at 5:00 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:45 p.m.
Space is limited. Advance registrations are strongly encouraged.
Please let us know if you have special dietary needs by September 2. Requests received after this date are not guaranteed to be accommodated.
Guest names for name tags, recommendations to the Club for government invitees, and other questions should be sent to info@iacwashington.org.
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