WAC To Honor Brian Barents with Wichita Aero Club Trophy

Brian Barents, the longtime business aviation and military veteran whose leadership has placed him among the most revered in the industry, will be honored on January 31 with the Wichita Aero Club (WAC) Trophy, the group announced this week. Presented annually, the trophy “honors individuals, groups, or organizations with deep ties to the Wichita region who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in aviation or aerospace.”

“Brian Barents exemplifies the leadership, expertise, and commitment to advancing the aviation industry that is fundamental to the Wichita Aero Club Trophy,” said Ashley Bowen Cook, WAC trophy committee chair and Greteman Group president. “His decades of military service and corporate leadership span executive roles, strategic leadership, and impactful contributions that have strengthened Wichita’s position in the global aerospace community.”

Recognized as a “Living Legend in Aviation,” Barents has a career that traces back to 1965, when he graduated from Western Michigan University and entered the U.S. Air Force. He logged more than 6,700 hours flying fighter aircraft, including the F-100, F-105, F-4, and F-16.

On the civilian side, he held roles including senior v-p for Cessna Aircraft, where he helped propel the establishment of the Citation series, and Learjet, where he guided a near-bankrupt company into its most profitable days since it had been founded. He further led Galaxy Aerospace, helping negotiate its sale to General Dynamics, and was co-chairman and CEO of Aerion. Barents has served on the boards of numerous aviation companies and is a past chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

The nomination calls Barents “a legend in the industry.”