May 21, 2025
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority to Honor Tuskegee Airman Hero Daniel Keel with Distinguished Col. Joe Kittinger Award
ORLANDO, Fla. – Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) Chief Executive Officer Lance Lyttle today announced to GOAA Board Members that Tuskegee Airman Flight Officer Daniel Keel will be the 2025 recipient of the Col. Joe Kittinger Award. The award will be presented June 28 during the annual Liberty Weekend concert program with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at Orlando International Airport (MCO).
Board Members applauded Mr. Keel’s selection for the honor, as nominated by a group of distinguished local veterans serving as the Award Nomination Advisory Group, during its regular monthly meeting.
Of the five Tuskegee Airmen Pilots who are still alive, Flight Officer Keel, 102, of Central Florida, is the only one who was triple rated. Mr. Keel was a Navigator, Bombardier, and Fighter Pilot. Drafted into service during World War II, Mr. Keel served his nation with courage and bravery, during a time of conflict and racial discrimination, as illustrated in a recent community exhibit. The display at MCO commemorated the State of Florida’s inaugural Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day.
“In honoring Flight Officer Daniel Keel, we not only recognize a trailblazer in American aviation, but we also pay tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and unyielding spirit of all who have worn the uniform,” said Mr. Lyttle. “As a living embodiment of duty, dignity, and history, Mr. Keel’s selection for the Col. Joe Kittinger Award reflects the deep pride the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority holds in its legacy, and in the veterans whose service continues to uplift this nation.”
Once known as McCoy Air Force Base, Orlando International Airport was originally home to a U.S. Air Force installation and training base. Established in 2013, the Col. Joe Kittinger Award is presented each year to honor a deserving individual for their contributions to aviation, the country, and the Central Florida community.
Col. Joe Kittinger (1928 – 2022) of Orlando is renowned for his pioneering high-altitude parachute jump from 102,800 feet in 1960, a record that stood for more than 50 years, and marked a milestone in aerospace exploration. Mr. Kittinger was also a decorated Air Force pilot, Vietnam War POW, and the first person to make a solo transatlantic balloon flight. In addition to this award, Col. Joe Kittinger is the namesake for the City of Orlando park located at Orlando Executive Airport honoring those who served.
Mr. Keel will be the 10th recipient of the Col. Joe Kittinger Award. The community is invited to the Americana-inspired concert performance, which will be held in Terminal C. Parking for Liberty Weekend is free.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is proud to operate Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), two of Florida’s premier air travel gateways. MCO is a world-class global connector, serving nearly 58 million annual passengers across its three terminals, A, B and C. Connected to an Intermodal Terminal Facility that offers high-speed passenger rail service, Terminal C is an inventive structure that elevates the customer experience with 100% automated screening lanes at TSA checkpoints. ORL is conveniently located just miles from downtown Orlando and provides vital general aviation access to the heart of the region.
For more information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority at 407-825-2055 or email us at MCOPIO@goaa.org for further assistance.