GOLDSBORO, N.C. — Seymour Johnson Air Force Base has once again put Goldsboro on the international stage, earning the Dick Schramm Memorial Community Relations Award from the International Council of Air Shows for its outstanding community engagement during the 2025 Wings Over Wayne Air Show and Open House.
The award was formally presented during a ceremony that highlighted Seymour Johnson’s exceptional collaboration with the City of Goldsboro, Wayne County, and numerous local organizations. Eric O’Connor and Rob Larson of Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake, the 2024 award recipients, joined the stage to help present this year’s honor, underscoring the award’s significance within the global military aviation community.
Presented in 35 of the last 37 years, the Dick Schramm Memorial Community Relations Award recognizes military installations that use air shows not only as aviation showcases, but as powerful tools to strengthen relationships with the communities they serve. With more than 150 active-duty U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard bases located primarily in small cities and towns, organizers emphasized that these events play a vital role in renewing partnerships and reinforcing shared goals.
“This year’s recipient overachieved on its community relations mission,” presenters noted, singling out the uniquely strong bond between Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and the Goldsboro community. “I haven’t seen another base and community relationship as strong as what exists here in Goldsboro.”
The 2025 Wings Over Wayne event drew more than 130,000 attendees and was headlined by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, who later named Seymour Johnson No. 1 Military Site of the Year for organization, logistics, and community support. That honor also came with the announcement that the Thunderbirds will return to Goldsboro for the May 2027 air show.
Organizers credited the event’s success to a carefully planned, multi-day approach to community outreach. Activities began Friday with a large-scale STEM education event, where more than 5,000 students attended a rehearsal show and interacted with 40 STEM-related exhibitors. The base’s hangar remained open to the public throughout the weekend, reinforcing accessibility and engagement.
New this year was Jams over Wayne, a Friday evening kickoff in downtown Goldsboro developed in partnership with the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Goldsboro. The event transformed the traditional invite-only Thunderbird meet-and-greet into a public celebration featuring live music, food, and informal interaction between residents, performers, and base representatives.
By partnering with local businesses, nonprofits, emergency responders, law enforcement agencies, government officials, hotels, and transportation providers, Seymour Johnson was able to produce a world-class air show on a limited budget while generating an estimated $9.1 million economic impact for the local economy.
Selection committee members praised the base’s “multifaceted approach” to community relations, noting that the close coordination between military and civilian partners fostered trust, strengthened communication, and ensured the event operated as one cohesive team.
Accepting the award on behalf of the base, representatives expressed gratitude for the community’s unwavering support.
“We worked really hard with the community and our military affairs partners to produce a world-class event,” officials said. “We’re incredibly proud of what we accomplished together and hope to carry this spirit of partnership forward throughout the air show community.”
As Seymour Johnson Air Force Base celebrates this international recognition, plans are already underway to build on the momentum. Wings Over Wayne will return in 2027, promising an even bigger showcase of aviation, education, and community pride.
