John D. Odegard chosen for National Aviation Hall of Fame
Founder and namesake of UND’s aerospace college will become second North Dakota aviator to be inducted
John D. Odegard – the visionary behind UND’s School of Aerospace Sciences that now bears his name – has been selected for induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
Odegard will become the second North Dakota aviator to be enshrined in the NAHF, located in Dayton, Ohio. UND alumnus Carl Ben Eielson received the honor in 1985.
A native of Minot, Odegard founded the college in 1968, starting with a fleet of just two aircraft. It has since grown to become UND’s second-largest degree granting college, with more than 2,000 students, 500 faculty and staff members and one of the largest fleets of civilian aircraft in North America.
In addition to its renowned Commercial Aviation program, the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences now offers undergraduate majors in Air Traffic Management, Atmospheric Sciences, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations and Aviation Safety & Operations, among other programs, plus graduate programs in fields ranging from Space Studies to Earth System Science & Policy and more.
In 2015, Odegard was honored with the Theodore Roosevelt Roughrider Award – the state’s highest civilian honor. He is also the subject of a 2007 book titled “Flight of the Odegard,” authored by Patrick McGuire.
A name ‘synonymous with aviation excellence’
North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong praised Odegard’s visionary spirit and contributions to the state’s burgeoning aerospace industry.
“From launching UND’s aviation program in 1968 with just a dozen students and two donated aircraft, to 1998 when the School of Aerospace Sciences was renamed in his honor, to the hundreds of future pilots from all over the world training there today, the name John D. Odegard has become synonymous with aviation excellence in North Dakota and throughout the nation and world,” Armstrong said.
“His vision became the catalyst for a world-class aviation school in America’s heartland, and his memory lives on in every student inspired by his incredible legacy to take flight and reach for the stars,” the governor continued. “With his well-deserved induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, John continues to put North Dakota on the map as a thriving hub for aerospace training, education and innovation.”
Robert Kraus, dean of the Odegard School, agreed. “We are honored by John Odegard’s selection for enshrinement in the National Aviation Hall of Fame,” Kraus said. “His visionary leadership and the pioneering programs he established set enduring standards in aviation education, flight training, and research – cementing our reputation as a global leader in aerospace excellence.”
The National Aviation Hall of Fame was founded in 1962 as a non-profit corporation in Dayton, the “Birthplace of Aviation.” With his induction, Odegard joins a distinguished list of only 270 honorees – a list that includes the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, William Boeing, John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Billy Mitchell and Jimmy Doolittle, among others.
The induction ceremony will take place on Sept. 24, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
