OUR MISSION
The Langley Flight Foundation is a 501c3 corporation whose mission is to:
COMMERATE – Commemorate the life and accomplishments of Professor Samuel Pierpont Langley, with a major emphasis on his heavier-than-air sustained mechanical flights in Stafford County, Virginia.
EDUCATE: Exhibit an exact replica of Langley’s “New Flying Machine” (Aerodrome No. 5), the first aircraft to achieve heavier-than-air sustained mechanical flight, and original items from Langley’s Smithsonian workshop. Conduct research, produce educational documentaries and sponsor outreach activities that will serve not only students of aviation history, but all audiences.
INSPIRE: Inspire people to foster an appreciation for the importance of flight to humanity through the creation of programs, events, and exhibitions to better engage and educate the public.
OUR BOARD
President
Chris Hornung
Raised in Stafford County, Virginia, Chris Hornung spent the summers of his youth visiting local historical sites with his family and searching for native American artifacts near his home on the banks of Aquia Creek. While he had a passion for history and archaeology, Chris embarked on an engineering career at Virginia Tech, earning his B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1994 and becoming a licensed professional engineer in 1999. In 2008, Chris returned to the region to oversee the planning, design, and construction of commercial, industrial, and residential development projects for the Silver Companies. Over the next 20 years, Chris managed the development of over 5 million square feet of commercial development projects, including over $150 million in infrastructure projects benefitting the greater Fredericksburg region.
In 2018, Chris joined Rappahannock Development Group , where he serves as Chief Development Officer, overseeing the day-to-day operations of a fast-growing residential real estate development company.
Chris is a former member and chairman of the Fredericksburg Economic Development Authority and Planning Commission. He is currently the chairman of the Stafford Regional Airport Authority and a member of the Embrey Mill Community Development Authority and the Stafford County Historical Society.
Chris’s longstanding passion for historical preservation and Stafford County led him to establish the Langley Flight Foundation with his father, Philip in 2020. He currently resides in the City of Fredericksburg with his wife, Katie, and his two children, Jacob and Isobel.
Vice President
Philip E. Hornung
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Philip Hornung obtained his Master of Arts from The Catholic University of America in educational psychology. He and his wife, Mary Catherine, established residence in Stafford County, Virginia in 1974, where they raised their four children.
Over the following forty-eight years, Phil has devoted himself to improving the lives of Stafford County residents and preserving its natural resources and cultural heritage. As President of the Aquia Harbour Property Owners Association’s Board of Directors, Phil helped Aquia Harbour preserve Government Island from residential development.
As a member of the Stafford County Planning Commission in the mid-1970’s, and a member of the Board of Supervisors between 1981 and 1989, Phil helped restore fiscal responsibility and long-range planning to the County. He worked on the 1986 and the 1988 Comprehensive Plans incorporating the nationally recognized Central Stafford U.S. Route 1 Corridor Development Plan. Phil served as Chairman of the Stafford Airport Committee in the 1980’s and played the pivotal role in establishing the Stafford Regional Airport at its current location.
As a founding member of the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission and its Vice-Chairman for four years, Phil provided regional leadership and foresight in the development of the Virginia Railway Express, playing a pivotal role in bringing Commuter Rail Service to Stafford and the City of Fredericksburg.
Phil is a member of the Stafford County Historical Society, The Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society and the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center. As Vice-President of the Friends of Widewater State Park, Inc. he continues to work with the Virginia General Assembly, Stafford County Schools and the Virginia Department of Recreation and Conservation to establish an environmental/science hands-on education center at Widewater State Park.
In 2016 Phil began researching the history of aviation in Stafford County, an effort that led to the founding of the Langley Flight Foundation in 2020. Phil continues his work with the Langley Flight Foundation to commemorate the life and accomplishments of Professor Samuel Pierpont Langley, with a major emphasis on his heavier-than-air sustained mechanical flights in Stafford County, Virginia.
Treasurer
Scott Mayausky
Scott A. Mayausky was elected Commissioner of the Revenue in 1999, becoming, at that time, the youngest elected official in the Commonwealth of Virginia. His office is responsible for the discovery and assessment of over $24 billion of taxable real estate and over $15 billion of taxable personal and business property. As Commissioner, Scott presides over the continued reorganization and modernization of Stafford County’s tax administration agency and serves as the chief assessing officer of Virginia’s 6th largest county.
Scott teaches tax professional throughout the Commonwealth as an instructor for the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Association of Virginia. His areas of expertise include real estate assessment and tax policy. Scott has also hosted delegations from the World Bank and has taught master classes on property tax at the annual World Bank Land and Poverty Conference.
Scott is an Accredited Member of the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). He was appointed to the Virginia Real Estate Appraisal Board by Governor Bob McDonnell in 2012 where he has authored and promoted policies that assist mass appraisers in the state licensure process. Scott holds a B.A, from West Virginia University and an M.A. in Government from Johns Hopkins University and is an alumnus of the of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University where he holds a Certificate in Public Policy.
As a native Virginian, Scott is committed to historical preservation efforts and serves as President of the Stafford Museum and Cultural Center. He currently lives in Stafford County, Virginia with his two children Brooke and Alexander.
Secretary
Sue Henderson
For 20 years, Sue was a Certified Recreation Professional (NRPA) specializing in large events and marketing for federal (USAF) and local (King George County, VA) recreation departments. She created Henderson Productions as a multi-service event planning and marketing company in 2001 and has more recently concentrated on the photography and tourism aspects of the industry.
Among Sue’s accomplishments, she is proud to have been the Program Manager for Stafford County’s award-winning 350th Anniversary celebrations in 2014. Her photographic images have won major awards from the Venice (Italy) Tourism department, the 7th, 9th and 13th Annual Julia Margaret Cameron Award for International Women Photographers, the Virginia State Fair and numerous others. She is the author of four travel photography books.
Sue is a veteran of the USAF and the current Executive Director of the Stafford Museum and Cultural Center.
Ferida Cralle
Ferida Cralle has dedicated 17 years to the field of education in Stafford County, Virginia. Currently in her fourth year as the division’s Work-Based Learning Coordinator, she has significantly expanded career readiness initiatives, increasing opportunities for internships, externships, and career awareness for students.
In addition to her role, Ferida serves on the Workforce Now board of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and collaborates with local community organizations to foster school-business partnerships that benefit both students and industries. Prior to this, she was an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher and a middle school social studies teacher. She was honored as Drew Middle School's Teacher of the Year in 2021. While teaching social studies, she also created an elective course on Stafford’s local history, a subject she is deeply passionate about sharing with the community.
Ferida holds a Bachelor's in Social Science and a Master’s in Teaching, both from James Madison University. She is currently pursuing an Educational Leadership endorsement at George Mason University. As a member of Delta Kappa Gamma’s Beta Eta chapter, an honor society for women educators, Ferida was awarded the “Honoring Your Own” distinction in 2023 for her work with high school students to refurbish and donate Chromebooks to Ethiopia University in collaboration with the nonprofit Educate Africa. Additionally, she was recognized as the Provisional Member of the Year by the Fredericksburg Area Service League in 2022, where she served for three years.
Ferida and her husband, Joe, are deeply involved in community service. Their family was recognized by the Knights of Columbus Council 4034 as their 2024 Family of the Year for their volunteerism.
A proud Stafford native, Ferida is raising her two sons, Joseph and John Paul, with her husband, Joe, and is committed to making a positive impact on their community and beyond.
Robin Dreeke
Born in New York City and raised in Carmel, New York, Robin Dreeke is a highly decorated retired FBI Special Agent and former Marine Corps Officer. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he served as an air support control officer and company commander at Marine Corps boot camp, where he developed the Crucible exercise.
In the FBI, Robin specialized in counterintelligence and was a member of the Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program, eventually becoming chief. His career spanned key locations including New York City, Norfolk, FBI Headquarters, Quantico, and Fredericksburg, Virginia, before his retirement in 2018.
As a bestselling author, news contributor, and renowned speaker, Robin shares insights on human behavior and effective communication, empowering audiences across various fields. He serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Advisors for the Stafford Regional Airport and holds a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating.
An avid Appalachian Trail backpacker, he embraces adventure and the great outdoors. Robin resides in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with his wife, Kim. Their daughter Katelyn is a nurse in Northern Virginia, and their son Kevin is a Marine Corps fighter pilot. He believes that the paths we take in life start with a spark of inspiration and encourages others to be that spark for themselves and others.
Foundation Timeline
A historical timeline of the Langley Aerodrome Experience concept