11 December 2025 – Montreal -- The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) congratulates Joan Sullivan Garrett on receiving the prestigious Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy in recognition of her enduring contribution to aviation and transformative leadership in aviation safety.

The Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to a living American for significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States. Garrett’s career exemplifies the spirit of this award through her groundbreaking efforts to improve aviation safety and emergency medical preparedness worldwide.

Garrett founded MedAire more than 40 years ago and pioneered the concept of providing real-time medical consultation and support to aircraft in flight. Using the exclusive MedLink service with advanced medical kits and equipment onboard, her vision fundamentally changed how medical emergencies are managed in aviation, setting a new global benchmark for safety, preparedness, and response.

Today, MedAire, an International SOS company, supports thousands of operators globally across business, commercial, and government aviation sectors, providing critical medical guidance and response coordination, as well as security advisory services.

IBAC Director, Kurt Edwards, commented, ”Joan is truly a pioneer in civil aviation and deserving of this incredible honor. On behalf of the IBAC community, we thank her for her vision and tenacity that created a life-saving legacy in aviation over four decades ago. Her leadership continues to inspire and advance global aviation safety. Congratulations Joan!”

About the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) created the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy in 1948, which has been presented by the President of NAA annually on or near the anniversary of the historic Wright Brothers first flight, at the Aero Club of Washington’s Annual Wright Memorial Dinner.

About International Business Aviation Council (IBAC)

IBAC represents the interests of business aviation worldwide. IBAC is a non-profit, international trade association with official observer status at the International Civil Aviation Organization, the UN Specialized Agency for aviation matters, in Montreal, Canada. IBAC promotes and manages the industry-leading standards for best safety practices through its International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO™); International Standard for Business Aviation Handling (IS-BAH™); Safety Management Tool Kit; SMS eLearning training; and Crew Card. Recently introduced in partnership with CTX, the IBAC Carbon Credit Exchange provides the business aviation community with a reliable resource for real-time offsetting to reduce its carbon footprint. More details at www.ibac.org

Media contact:

Marj Rose

IBAC Communications

comms@ibac.org