Tailhook Association

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Nonprofit organization of naval aviators

title: "Tailhook Association" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1956-establishments-in-the-united-states", "non-profit-organizations-based-in-san-diego", "united-states-military-support-organizations", "united-states-navy-support-organizations", "organizations-established-in-1956"] description: "Nonprofit organization of naval aviators" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tailhook_Association" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Nonprofit organization of naval aviators ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox organization"]

FieldValue
nameTailhook Association
native_name
native_name_lang
imageTailHook insignia.png
alt
map
map_size
map2
founded_date1956
locationScripps Ranch, San Diego, California
leader_titleChairman of the Board
leader_nameRADM Mike "Nasty" Manazir, USN (Ret.)
leader_title2President
leader_name2CAPT Kristen "Dragon" Findlay, USN
websitehttps://www.tailhook.net/
::

| name = Tailhook Association | full_name = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | nickname = | named_after = | image = TailHook insignia.png | image_size = | alt = | caption = | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | map2 = | map2_size = | map2_alt = | map2_caption = | abbreviation = | founded_date = 1956 | founder = | location = Scripps Ranch, San Diego, California | origins = | product = | focus = | method = | revenue = | endowment = | num_volunteers = | num_employees = | num_members = | subsid = | owner = | leader_title = Chairman of the Board | leader_name = RADM Mike "Nasty" Manazir, USN (Ret.) | leader_title2 = President | leader_name2 = CAPT Kristen "Dragon" Findlay, USN | Non-profit_slogan = | dissolved = | website = https://www.tailhook.net/ | footnotes = The Tailhook Association is a U.S.-based non-profit organization supporting the interests of sea-based aviation, with emphasis on aircraft carriers. The word tailhook refers to the hook underneath the tail of the aircraft that catches the arresting wire suspended across the flight deck in order to stop the landing plane quickly.

History

Establishment

The Tailhook Association was formed by active-duty naval aviators in 1956, eventually growing into a national organization headquartered in San Diego, California. During the Vietnam War, the annual Tailhook reunion and symposium also served to provide opportunities for aircrews from the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets to exchange information about events in Southeast Asia. The association evolved into an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to building camaraderie among those that have been a part of the Naval Aviation team. The purpose of the association is to foster, encourage, develop, study and support the aircraft carrier and sea-based aircraft and aircrews.

The Tailhook Educational Foundation (TEF) was created in 1992 to educate the nation's public with regard to the history and present day activities of the US Navy carrier aviation community. TEF is a separate non-profit that works closely with, and in support of, the Tailhook Association, providing over 100 scholarships per year to Naval Aviation legacies.

The Tailhook scandal

In September 1991, the 35th annual symposium in Las Vegas featured a two-day debriefing on Navy and Marine Corps aviation in Operation Desert Storm. It was the largest such meeting yet held, with 4,000 attendees including active, reserve, and retired personnel. According to a Department of Defense (DoD) report, 83 women and 7 men stated that they had been victims of sexual assault and harassment during the meeting. Several participants later stated that a number of flag officers attending the meetings were aware of the sexual assaults, but did nothing to stop them.

The issues were never settled, and as late as 2002, the Tailhook chairman spoke dismissively of "the alleged misconduct that occurred in 1991".

Frontline on PBS reported: ::quote

Ultimately the careers of fourteen admirals and almost 300 naval aviators were scuttled or damaged by Tailhook. For example, Secretary of the Navy H. Lawrence Garrett III and CNO Admiral Frank Kelso were both at Tailhook '91. Garrett ultimately resigned and Kelso retired early two years after the convention. ::

Author Jean Zimmerman developed the thesis that the scandal underscored the shifting status of women in the US military and particularly the role of women in combat.

Activities

Among the Tailhook programs are publication of the quarterly journal The Hook, addressing historical and current events coverage; college scholarships via the Tailhook Educational Foundation; and local/regional "ready rooms" for active and retired members who support fleet activities.

Some visitors to US Navy aircraft carriers who joined or left the ship on a Carrier Onboard Delivery aircraft are issued "Tailhook certificates" by the Navy, commending them for "NAFOD and intestinal fortitude."

Awards

James D. "Jig Dog" Ramage Award

::data[format=table]

YearAircraft CarrierCarrier Air Wing
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
::

Tailhooker Of The Year Award

Yearly award given to an individual who has made the most significant contribution to U.S. carrier aviation. ::data[format=table]

YearRankRecipientService
1963CAPT
1964CAPT
1965VADM
1966VADM
1967ADM
1968ADM
1969VADM
1970ADM
1971VADM
1972VADM
1973VADM
1974VADM
1975VADM
1976VADM
1977VADM
1978ADM
1979VADM
1980VADM
1981RADM
1982ADM
1983VADM
1984RADM
1985RADM
1986VADM
1987CAPT
1988CAPT
1989CAPT
1990RADM
1991CAPT
1992No Award
1993RADM
1994CAPT
1995RADM
1996CDR
1997ADM
1998CAPT
1999CAPT
2000VADM
2001CAPT
LtCol
2002CDR
LtCol
2003CAPT
LtCol
2004CAPT
LtCol
2005CAPT
Maj
2006CAPT
LtCol
2007CAPT
LtCol
2008CAPT
2009CAPT
2010CAPT
2011CAPT
2012CAPT
2013CAPT
2014CAPT
2015CAPT
2016CAPT
2017CAPT
2018CDR
2019CAPT
2020CAPT
::

Lifetime Achievement Award

::data[format=table]

YearRankRecipientService
1993RADM
Mr.
1994CAPT
CAPT
1995VADM
CAPT
1996CAPT
RADM
CAPT
1997CAPT
CAPT
1998CDR
Mr.
1999RADM
CAPT
2000CAPT
CAPT
CDR
2001CAPT
2002RADM
CDR
2003RADM
2004CAPT
2005CAPT
2006CAPT
CDR
2007CAPT
Mr.
2008RADM
ADM
::

The Hook Magazine Contributor of the Year

::data[format=table]

YearRank/TitleRecipientService
1987CAPT
1988Mr
Mr
1989CAPT
1990Mr
1991LT
1992No Award
1993CDR
1994CDR
1995LCDR
1996CDR
1997Mr
1998Mr
LCDR
1999Ms
2000LCDR
2001Ms
2002Mr
2003CDR
2004PHCS
2005Mr
2006CDR
::

Honorary Tailhooker of the Year

(Sponsored by the Boeing Company) ::data[format=table]

YearRank/TitleRecipientService
2001Ms
2002Mr
2003Hon
2004Hon
2004Gen
2005Mr
2006AVCM
2007CDR
::

References

References

  1. "Tailhook.net {{!}} Tailhook Association {{!}} Officers".
  2. "Tailhook.net {{!}} Tailhook Association {{!}} Officers".
  3. Thompson II, Charles C.. (1999). "[[A Glimpse of Hell: The Explosion on the USS Iowa and Its Cover-Up]]". W. W. Norton.
  4. RADM Frederick L. Lewis, USN (Ret). "From the Chairman: Tailhook Association At Your Service". The Tailhook Association.
  5. "Post Tailhook Punishment". [[Frontline (US TV series).
  6. Zimmerman, Jean. (1995). "Tailspin: women at war in the wake of Tailhook". [[Doubleday (publisher).
  7. ''[[Mother Jones (magazine). Mother Jones]]'', 28 Feb. 2013, [https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/02/us-navy-spends-4-billion-fuel-every-year The US Navy Spends $4 Billion On Fuel Every Year], retrieved 23 Aug 2013.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1956-establishments-in-the-united-statesnon-profit-organizations-based-in-san-diegounited-states-military-support-organizationsunited-states-navy-support-organizationsorganizations-established-in-1956