The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation will host its 21st Annual Symposium May 9-11 at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola.

Beginning in 1987, the symposium aims to preserve the rich history and proud heritage of Naval Aviation by highlighting historical events in which U.S. Naval Aviation has played a major role.

The foundation is honored to announce Donald C. Winter, Secretary of the Navy, as this year’s distinguished guest speaker.

Each May, the symposium averages nearly 3,000 guests, ranging from active and retired flag officers to aerospace industry executives. Young Naval officers, sailors and Marines undergoing training in Pensacola are also invited, along with the Museum Foundation’s numerous members, guests and the general public.

This year’s symposium features three panel discussions: “Birth of the Blues,” “Tales from the Back of the Ready Room” and “Naval Aviation: Issues & Answers.”

• Panel 1, “Birth of the Blues” panelists are all former Blue Angels pilots who have flown the gamut of Blue Angels aircraft, from the propeller aircrafts of yesteryear to today’s modern F-18 Hornets.

• Panel 2, “Tales from the Back of the Ready Room” is composed of young U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviation officers with recent Afghanistan and Iraq combat experience.

• Panel 3, “Naval Aviation: Issues & Answers” Active Navy & Marine Corps flag and general officers discuss the state of naval aviation. Issues covered include equipment, personnel, deployment schedules and more.

All panels include a question and answer session immediately following.

The symposium’s agenda also includes a golf tournament, a luncheon, opening reception, a banquet and two Navy Band concerts.

Previous symposia subjects have included the Battle of Midway, the Battle of Coral Sea, American Aces, Medal of Honor recipients, POWs, the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs, Flying Tigers, Black Sheep Squadron, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and more.

The foundation’s distinguished guest speakers have included former President George W. Bush, Gov. Jeb Bush, Sens. John Warner, Jake Garn, Connie Mack and John McCain, Secretaries of the Navy Lehman, Webb, Garrett and Danzig, Under Secretaries of the Navy Hultin and Pirie, Chiefs of Naval Operations Boorda and Johnson, the Vice Chiefs of Naval Operations, Admirals Fallon and Mullen, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Jones and the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Nyland.

For more information or registration, call the foundation at (800) 327-5002 or (850) 453-2389, or visit www.navalaviationmuseum.org.