Capt. John J. Sax Aviation Scholarship Recipient: Caleb Payne

We are honored to showcase another remarkable recipient of the Capt. Sax Scholarship, a tribute to the memory of Capt. John J. Sax, USMC. Join us in extending congratulations to Caleb Payne from Portsmouth, Virginia.

Although Caleb’s profound passion for aviation is evident, what truly caught the attention of our board is his incredible dedication to service. As a member of NJROTC, Caleb has served as the Mass Communications Officer, Cadet Commanding Officer, and, most recently, Teams Commander. Alongside these roles, he has accumulated over 200 hours of community service since his Freshman year of high school. Currently a senior, Caleb aspires to attend the Naval Academy with the ultimate goal of becoming a Naval Aviator.

Much like Capt. Sax, Caleb’s journey into aviation began at a young age, attending Air Shows since the age of 8 years old. His first solo flight, a remarkable achievement, took place this past July. Caleb was selected to attend an 8-week intensive/accelerated private pilot program at DSU, and he envisions utilizing the Capt. Sax Scholarship to accrue his remaining flight hours required for his Private Pilot certificate.

Caleb, undoubtedly, is destined for the skies. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the honor of witnessing John’s legacy carried forward by the newest generations of future Naval Aviators.

As a reminder, the cutoff to apply for the next round of aviation scholarships given in honor of Capt. John J. Sax is May 15, 2024. The application can be found on our website at: https://captsaxfoundation.org/scholarship-application/

Semper Fi & G.A.S.