Lieutenant Colonel Raymond ‘Ray’ E. Costello

Costello has been a respected member of the aviation community for over 64 years. During World War II, he volunteered with the U.S. Army Air Corps and earned ratings in two dozen different aircraft before joining the Air Force Reserve in 1946. Recalled to active duty for the Berlin Airlift, Costello served in Korea and Southeast Asia. Joining the staff of the Oregon Division of Aeronautics (DOA) in 1972, he was instrumental in creating Oregon’s State System Planning for General Aviation. He persuaded the FAA to fund the concept for the Oregon plan, which became a model for state plans across the United States. Upon retiring from DOA, Costello served the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) as the Northwest representative for 17 years and continues today as the special Oregon contact for AOPA, among many other Oregon aviation leadership roles. Costello is referred to as Mr. Oregon General Aviation and currently resides in Corvallis, Ore.