James D. Raisbeck, 84, was the founder and chairman of Raisbeck Engineering, a Seattle aerospace company. An aerospace innovator and philanthropist, he established the first endowed chair of its kind at Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus — the James D. Raisbeck Engineering Design/Build/Test Endowed Chair at Embry-Riddle.
Additionally, the Raisbeck Foundation contributed to help build the new STEM Education Center at the Prescott Campus, with the Engineering Design Studio at the center named in Raisbeck’s honor. He also facilitated the donation of a Raisbeck-designed swept blade turbofan propeller from Hartzell Propeller Inc., which hangs on display in the STEM Education Center. The Raisbeck Foundation has given significant grants to support education, the arts and medical research. James and his wife, Sherry, helped establish the Raisbeck Aviation High School, a STEM and aviation-focused high school in the Seattle area.
The American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)/Museum of Flight recognized Raisbeck as a Pathfinder in 2007. He received the Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award by the Living Legends of Aviation Foundation, of which he was a member, in 2008. Raisbeck also received election to Fellow in the AIAA in 2012.