The 2025 Honorees
Inspiration Honorees
Mark R. Baker joined AOPA in 2013 as president and CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the world’s largest civil aviation organization. Mark retired from his role at the end of 2024.
In his role, Baker helped bring about several advancements that have benefitted all general aviation pilots, including the introduction of BasicMed as necessary third-class medical reform (to date, more than 85,000 pilots have qualified to fly under BasicMed); turning away the effort to privatize the nation’s air traffic control system; the safe integration of ADS-B; and guiding general aviation into its safest era ever.
Before his appointment at AOPA, Baker served in numerous senior executive roles, including CEO of Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corporation, a leading retailer of home improvement and garden products. Baker also served in senior executive roles at Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Gander Mountain Company, and The Home Depot.
Earlier in his career, he worked for HomeBase, Scotty’s Home Improvement Centers, and Knox Hardware and Lumber.
Baker also served as chairman of
AOPA’s Political Action Committee; chief executive officer for the AOPA Foundation; president of the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations, representing pilots in 81 countries; and publisher of AOPA Pilot, the world’s largest and most influential aviation publication.
A native Minnesotan, Baker earned his pilot certificate in his twenties and has logged
more than 10,000 hours of flight time in aircraft ranging from light seaplanes to
turbines and helicopters.
A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Baker has served on numerous corporate
boards and has taken leadership roles with several nonprofit organizations.
At the 2025 Endeavor Awards, we’ll pay tribute to the aerial firefighters whose unwavering courage and dedication were instrumental during the catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year. In January 2025, Southern California faced unprecedented wildfires, intensified by extreme Santa Ana winds with gusts reaching up to 100 mph. These conditions fueled rapid fire spread and, at times, grounded aerial firefighting efforts.
The relentless efforts by aerial firefighters and first responders not only contained the wildfires but also safeguarded countless lives and properties. We look forward to honoring these individuals for their heroism, resilience, and unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from the skies.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched the Polaris Dawn mission to low-Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:23 a.m. ET on September 10, 2024. Dragon and the Polaris Dawn crew safely splashed down off the coast of Florida at 3:36 a.m. ET on September 15.
Jared Isaacman, Kidd Poteet, Sarah Gillis, and Anna Menon spent nearly five days in orbit, during which they completed four objectives, including high altitude flying, the first-ever commercial spacewalk, in-space communications, and health impact research.
The four Polaris Dawn crew members combined their expertise, knowledge, and passion for spaceflight to further human space exploration. We’re thrilled to recognize them at the 2025 Endeavor Awards for their incredible contributions to aerospace!
- Jared Isaacman – Mission Commander
- Kidd Poteet – Mission Pilot
- Sarah Gillis – Mission Specialist
- Anna Menon – Mission Specialist & Medical Officer
Endeavor Honorees
In 1981, Mike Evans was gifted a glider ride for Christmas. He went to Boulder City for the experience, glided among the clouds, and, as Mike says, he was hooked. It was a life-changing adventure, and he immediately started taking flying lessons at the old Henderson Airport, quickly earning his pilot license.
He’s been taking to the skies ever since with more than 8,000 flight hours to date.
While flying to distant locations for his father’s construction company, Mike earned his instrument, multiengine, and commercial ratings. “I wanted to fly as much as I could, but I also wanted to make it valuable,” Mike says.
That value grew even further when Mike began volunteering to transport blood for United Blood Services. He later joined Angel Plane, now known as Miracle Flights, and in the ‘90s, started volunteering for AirLifeLine — a move that ultimately inspired him to join Angel Flight West in 2013.
One of Mike’s first missions was flying a child to a camp operated by the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, a partnership that exists to this day. “I loved the experience so much that I quickly started going through the volunteer portal and picking up other flights,” he says. During those first 12 months, Mike went on to fly 30 missions for patients in need of far-off care.
And now, more than 10 years later, Mike’s flown an incredible 624 flights to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of patients and their families. Grateful for each relationship he’s formed through these flights, Mike says, “I’ve never met a person that I was sorry that I didn’t enjoy flying.
“It’s a truly rewarding endeavor.”
Lisa Fusano’s journey into aviation began early, inspired by her father, who worked in aerospace at Lockheed Martin. “When I was 15, we went to an Air Force base to practice evacuation procedures on an L-1011 TriSar with other Lockheed Martin families. Since then, I’ve had the aviation bug,” she says.
The opportunity to become a pilot didn’t come right away. It wasn’t until 2013, at the age of 57, that Lisa joined her local chapter of the Ninety-Nines (99s), an international organization for female pilots. By November 2014, with the help of scholarships from the 99s, she earned her private pilot license.
Continuing to pursue her passion, Lisa received the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship, which enabled her to earn her advanced instrument rating. In 2020, thanks to a scholarship from the Ventura County 99s, she earned her commercial rating.
While earning her certifications, Lisa also became the Assistant Director of the Explorers in 2013. “My goal was always to give back by helping young Explorers learn to fly without the high cost. It’s been a joy to be part of this program.” In 2023, Lisa became a Certified Flight Instructor, and within her first year, she sent her first Explorer to their pilot check ride.
Aviation Explorers Post 747 is dedicated to helping young people achieve their private pilot certificates through ground school education and scholarships. Since its formation, the group has helped more than 40 individuals obtain their private pilot certificates. “It inspires me to see them reach their goals,” says Lisa, who is now the director of her local post. “There’s a real sense of satisfaction, and I love giving back this way.”