Col. Wilfred “Glenn" Mackey, USAF (Ret.), died in September 2025.
After graduating from MIT with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Mackey spent 27 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring with the rank of Colonel. During that time, he logged over 4000 hours of flight time on military missions and aircraft testing and development. He served as an A-1 Skyraider pilot rescuing down airmen in Vietnam. He concluded his career in the Air Force test and development programs.
Mackey received his M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1965. After his retirement from the Air Force, Glenn was hired by Fairchild-Republic and Grumman developing the A-10 attack aircraft. He developed what would become standard aviation safety equipment like the Ground Avoidance System and the use of NVGs during night flying.
He was a mentor and leader at local Civil Air Patrol events. An active member of AIAA, Mackey had served as member, chair, and treasurer of the AIAA Long Island Section.
