Peter Sheppard Scholarship

The Captain Tom Sheppard Memorial Scholarship was established in his honor to help another aspiring aviator take an important step toward a career in aviation. Through the Greater Miami Aviation Association, his family hopes to carry Captain Sheppard’s legacy forward by creating opportunities for the next generation of aviation professionals and helping them pursue the same industry that meant so much to him and his family.

Captain Tom Sheppard lived a life defined by service, aviation, and a love of flight that would leave a lasting legacy for generations of his family.
His aviation journey began in the United States Marine Corps, where he served his country while working in air traffic control. That experience became the foundation for a lifelong career in aviation. Following his military service, Captain Sheppard pursued a career as a professional pilot, flying for Western Airlines and ultimately retiring from Delta Air Lines.

Captain Sheppard’s influence extended well beyond his own career in the cockpit. Aviation became a family legacy, with both of his sons going on to become pilots themselves. One of his sons flew professionally for TWA before continuing his career with Boeing as a flight instructor. Through them, Captain Sheppard’s passion for aviation continued into the next generation—and eventually into the next.

His legacy also lives on through his grandson, who followed the family tradition into aviation and ultimately became an airline pilot himself. What began with Captain Sheppard’s service and career grew into a multigenerational connection to an industry that has shaped his family for decades.