The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has announced that Joan Sullivan Garrett will be inducted into the Women in Aviation International (WAI) Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2026. The recognition will be conferred during the 37th Annual WAI Conference in Dallas, Texas, on March 20, 2026. Garrett's career has been marked by a commitment to aviation safety and innovative medical response solutions. She founded MedAire in 1985, pioneering global telemedicine through radio, teletype, and satellite communications, and established MedLink, the aviation industry’s first 24/7 medical response center staffed by emergency physicians.
Beginning her career as a flight nurse, Garrett's dedication to passenger safety led her to develop systems that could reach travelers anywhere. Her efforts include training pilots and flight crews in medical response and advocating for higher safety standards in aviation. Her memoir, “One Life Lost, Millions Gained,” chronicles her work and the evolution of aeromedical care. The induction into the WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame adds to her numerous accolades, including the NBAA Meritorious Service Award and the Flight Safety Foundation’s Business Aviation Meritorious Service Award. Garrett was also inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2020.
She will be honored alongside Olga Custodio, the first Latina pilot in the U.S. Air Force, and Nadine Berniece Ramsey, a fearless military aviator who served with the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II. Garrett’s recognition coincides with her upcoming receipt of the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy from the National Aeronautic Association in December 2025, honoring significant public service in aviation.
Based in Washington D.C., NBAA is the leading organization for companies relying on general aviation aircraft to enhance business operations. The association serves more than 10,000 members and hosts the world’s largest civil aviation trade show, NBAA-BACE. Media representatives can subscribe to NBAA press releases via email for timely updates.
