GOLDSBORO — Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is celebrating major international recognition following the success of its air show held last May, with base leadership crediting the surrounding community for making the event award-winning.
During a recent interview with Jeff Farrow on WGBR, Colonel Atlas of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base announced the air show received top honors from the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS), including a prestigious Community Relations Award and the Thunderbird Site of the Year award. The ICAS awards are presented on an international stage, with only five major honors given annually.
The Community Relations Award recognizes military installations where local governments, nonprofits, businesses, and residents work together to create an exceptional air show experience. According to Colonel Atlas, the award reflects how the greater Wayne County region — including Goldsboro, Wayne, Johnston, Lenoir counties, and partners across North Carolina — went above and beyond in their support.
“This was the first time Seymour Johnson has ever won this award,” Atlas said. “It was a huge moment for us and really a chance to show off how incredible this community is.”
A standout feature of the air show weekend was a downtown Goldsboro kickoff event Jams Over Wayne that brought together visiting pilots, military members, civilians, and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. The open-air celebration combined live music, food, and community engagement, setting the tone for the entire weekend.
In addition to the air show, the base hosted a large-scale STEM event, welcoming approximately 5,000 students into interactive hangars focused on science, technology, engineering, and math. The weekend also included extensive safety and medical preparations, with support from local law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical teams, and hospital partners from UNC and ECU.
Colonel Atlas highlighted the efforts of dozens of community partners, vendors, and volunteers, noting that the air show’s success was the result of months of planning and collaboration.
“These awards belong just as much to the community as they do to the base,” Atlas said. “We couldn’t have done it without the incredible support we received.”
With ICAS awards open to military bases each time they host an air show, Seymour Johnson officials say they hope this recognition marks the beginning of many more successes in the future.
