Jessica Reed is a writer and editor with AIN. She joined the team in the fall of 2023 after two years covering the aviation industry at Avionics International. She earned her bachelor&#039;s degree in English (Writing &amp; Rhetoric) from Pepperdine University. Her hometown is St. Louis, Missouri, and she since has resided in Santa Barbara, California, and Brooklyn, New York, among others. She is currently based in Philadelphia.

Writer & Editor

Jessica Reed

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has named Joan Sullivan Garrett as the 2025 recipient of the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, recognizing her contributions to aviation medical emergency response over four decades.
Garrett established MedAire in 1985 following her experience as a critical care flight nurse responding to a remote Arizona vehicle accident where she was unable to save an eight-year-old victim. This incident catalyzed her vision to enhance aviation medical preparedness through improved crew training, resources, and access to medical expertise.
The company pioneered several industry firsts, including the inaugural Manual for In-flight Medical Care and upgraded medical kits. In 1987, Garrett launched MedLink, the first 24-hour global aviation medical response center staffed by emergency physicians. The service now handles approximately 900 emergency calls daily and managed more than 157,000 cases in 2024 alone.
MedAire currently serves more than 180 airlines worldwide and 6,800 private aircraft, establishing itself as the leading provider of remote medical safety and security services. The company’s expansion has encompassed business aviation flight departments, maritime operators, and federal government clients.
“Joan’s visionary leadership and dedication have enhanced aviation safety for over four decades, permanently raising industry standards and saving countless lives,” said Amy Spowart, NAA president and CEO. “Her innovation embodies the spirit and legacy of the Wright Brothers.”
Garrett’s influence extended beyond corporate operations into regulatory policy. Her 2001 congressional testimony is credited with prompting the FAA to mandate automated external defibrillators and enhanced emergency medical kits aboard U.S. airlines.
The industry veteran served on NBAA’s board of directors from 2011 to 2015 and held positions as both chair and vice chair of the NBAA Advisory Council. In 2017, NBAA honored her with its Meritorious Service Award, the association’s highest recognition.
NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen remarked, “For decades, Joan has combined entrepreneurialism with expertise and empathy to save countless lives and make our entire industry safer and more secure.”
Additional accolades include the Flight Safety Foundation's Business Aviation Meritorious Service Award and induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Garrett previously served as vice chair of the Flight Safety Foundation’s board of governors.
“Through innovation, resilience, and the fortitude to challenge norms, the Wright brothers changed the world,” said Garrett. “To be cast in their light is humbling to the core. I am deeply honored.”
The Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, displayed at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, has been presented annually since 1948 in partnership with the Aero Club of Washington. The 77th Annual Wright Memorial Dinner will take place in December at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Washington, D.C.

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Joan Sullivan Garrett Selected for 2025 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy

Joan Sullivan Garrett is the recipient of the 2025 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy

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