CWU Trustee Ray Conner to be honored by The Wings Club Foundation

Central Washington University Trustee Ray Conner will receive the Distinguished Achievement Award from The Wings Club Foundation later this year.

The annual award, recognizing Conner's outstanding accomplishments in the field of aviation, will be presented at the 81st Awards Gala on October 20 in New York City.

Conner, who is also a CWU alumnus, currently serves as chairman of Pursuit Aerospace, a global manufacturer of complex aircraft engine components. In addition to his role with Pursuit Aerospace, he is a director and a member of the Safety Committee and chair of the Compensation Committee of Alaska Air Group. He has been a member of the board of directors and Compensation Committee of Atlas Air Worldwide since 2022.

Conner joined The Boeing Company in 1977 as a mechanic on the 727 program, and he retired as vice chairman of the company in 2017. In his nearly 40-year career with Boeing, he developed deep manufacturing, technical, and government affairs experience, serving as Boeing's vice chairman from 2013-17. He also was president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes from 2012-16.

Conner previously served as vice president of sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes and vice president and general manager of Supply Chain Management and Operations for The Boeing Company. He was named Boeing's vice president of sales for the Americas in 2003.

The Wings Club Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Its mission is to focus on initiatives aimed at supporting scholarships for students who will pursue a career in aviation or aerospace, providing programs to educate in the field of aviation, and supporting charitable organizations that use aviation to help those in need.

The Wings Club Foundation comprises more than 1,100 members including industry leaders, pilots, professionals in related service organizations, and students of aviation. To learn more, visit their website.