Alexandria, Virginia

Inducted in 1987, Vice Admiral Donald D. Engen became a Naval aviator during WWII taking part in the first attacks against Okinawa and Formosa.  He participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf and during the second Battle of Philippines he sank the Japanese carrier Suikaku for which he was awarded the Navy Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross.  After WWII, he helped pioneer new equipment and instrument procedures, and made the first jet takeoff and landings from a carrier at night and the first landing on board a carrier using the mirror landing system.  After retiring from the Navy as a Vice Admiral in 1978, he became General Manager and Division Director for the Piper Aircraft Co.  In 1982, he was appointed to the National Transportation Safety Board and was sworn in as Federal Aviation Administrator by President Regan in 1984.  In 1996, Engen became the Director of the National Air and Space Museum.