Denver International Airport Dedicates New CEEA Hall of Equity to Trailblazing Aviators Bessie Coleman and Ed Dwight

Denver International Airport (DEN) dedicated its Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation’s (CEEA) Hall of Equity to Bessie Coleman and Ed Dwight, two trailblazing aviators. Elected officials, community members, Mr. Dwight, Ms. Coleman’s great niece Gigi Coleman and the Fly Girls and Boys Bessie Coleman Denver Chapter of Take Flight Leadership Aviation, among other distinguished guests, were on hand to celebrate the occasion.

“When we expand opportunities for underrepresented communities to explore new and exciting careers like aviation, our entire city thrives – and CEEA does just that,” Mayor Mike Johnston said. “I am thrilled to honor the legacies of Ed Dwight and Bessie Coleman by dedicating the CEEA Hall of Equity in their names. Their groundbreaking accomplishments will inspire all who come through CEEA to reach new heights in their own careers.”

CEEA, which broke ground in December 2023, is a first-of-its-kind facility intended to create a pipeline of talent for Denver and the aviation industry more broadly, with a concentration on under-served communities, historically underutilized business, veterans and women.

“As we continue to make progress on our new CEEA facility, the buildout of the space will allow DEN and Denver to develop the country’s aviation workforce, provide small and underrepresented businesses with the tools to succeed and allow DEN to lead the aviation industry in research and innovation. It’s fitting then that we would dedicate the heart of CEEA’s facility to two pioneering aviators,” DEN CEO Phil Washington said. “Neither Ed Dwight nor Bessie Coleman received the recognition they deserved for their immense accomplishments during their time and careers. Today, their legacies become memorialized in what we believe will be a model for the entire aviation and transportation industry, DEN’s Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation.”

CEEA will occupy roughly 38,000 square feet of space on Level 4 of the hotel and transit center (under the Westin Hotel) once complete. The focal point of the center is the Hall of Equity, which will accommodate approximately 300 people for dynamic training and educational purposes. Other adjacent lecture halls and training rooms will accommodate another 200-300 people. A pre-function and lobby space will also have a small café for networking and small group meetings.

“I am very honored to receive this recognition,” Ed Dwight said. “Aviation has been my lifelong passion. As a former Air Force Test Pilot and America's first Black astronaut candidate, I can say that the Center for Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA) and the capabilities it holds for Denver, Colorado and the nation shows good truly does lead the way!”

Born in 1933, Ed Dwight was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force who served as a flight instructor and combat pilot during the Korean War. He was selected by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to be the first African American candidate for NASA's early astronaut program. Ultimately, he was not selected and faced continued barriers to advancement in aviation because of his race. In fact, it would take another 20+ years before an African American astronaut was finally permitted to go to space. After Dwight left the military, he became an engineer, private pilot, developer, restaurateur and a renowned sculptural artist. His love of aviation never waned over that time and, at age 90, he joined the crew that ventured into space on Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin space capsule, becoming the oldest person to ever go to space.

"As Bessie Coleman’s great-niece, I am deeply honored to see her legacy celebrated in such a profound way. My great-aunt believed in breaking boundaries, embracing diversity and inspiring future generations to reach new heights,” Gigi Coleman said. “This space stands as a tribute not only to her remarkable achievements but also to the countless individuals who dream of transforming the impossible into reality. I hope every traveler passing through this Hall of Equity feels empowered to carry her spirit forward – bold, resilient and unyielding in the pursuit of their own dreams.”

Bessie Coleman was the first African American and Native-American woman pilot to earn an international pilot’s license. She was also the first Native American to pilot a plane. Born in 1892 in Atlanta, Texas, she faced challenges getting admitted into flight school in the United States, so she learned French and traveled to Paris to pursue her dream of becoming a pilot and opening a flight training school. Her goal was to encourage women and people of color to reach their dreams – and this became her legacy. Though her life and career were cut short in a tragic plane crash in 1926, her life and legacy continue to inspire people around the world.

CEEA is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Programming has been underway for the last year and includes a Business Development Training Academy, research and innovation programming, as well as mentorship, internship and leadership development (career pathway) programs, all of which are focused on creating an aviation talent pipeline for the country and Rocky Mountain region.