Garmin co-founders Min Kao and the late Gary Burrell were honored with enshrinement into the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) during its 60th annual ceremony held September 14 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. This accolade recognizes their lasting contributions to the aviation industry, cementing their legacy alongside other aviation pioneers.
Also recognized this year were the late Don Bateman, chief engineer of flight safety avionics at Honeywell, and Peggy Chabrian, founder and long-time president of Women in Aviation International, among others.
Kao and Burrell founded Garmin 35 years ago, driven by the belief that advanced navigation and communication technologies could enhance aviation safety and save lives. Under their leadership, Garmin revolutionized aviation with innovations such as the GPS 100AVD, the industry’s first widely accessible GPS navigator, as well as the Autoland system, which won the Robert J. Collier Trophy for its life-saving automation capabilities. These technologies, along with many others, have had a transformative impact on the safety, efficiency, and accessibility of modern flight.
“To truly honor their pioneering work and the foundation they laid for Garmin's acclaimed products, there is no greater tribute than seeing them inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame," remarked Cliff Pemble, president and CEO of Garmin.
Kao continues to serve as executive chairman of Garmin’s board.