Ken Lehmer ’81

Bates Program graduate

I first learned about the Bates Aeronautics program shortly after starting my freshman year at HMC in 1977. I eagerly attended an introductory flight they offered to incoming students and was quickly hooked on the experience. I hadn’t even met a pilot prior to that so the concept of flying yourself in a small aircraft was completely new to me. My father was a civil structural engineer so I grew up around large building job sites and my plans after graduating from HMC was to follow in his footsteps. Fortunately I was lucky enough to be accepted into the Bates program beginning my junior year and by graduation I new I wanted to work in my new passion of aviation. I ended up working at Northrop Grumman my entire career as an aircraft structures engineer (yup, still liking solid load paths). Iris Critchell and the Bates program were responsible for steering me towards a profession I loved.
I have continued to fly ever since. My wife and I met through mutual friends at our local airport and have enjoyed raising our two wonderful children in and around aviation. They were lucky enough to have known Iris personally and received a huge smile and hug upon each greeting from her.
Iris made sure that her students understood the importance of flying safely and responsibly and that being able to fly was not a right but a privilege. It has kept me safe and humble for over 40 years. I and my family owe so much to her. She will remain forever in our hearts and fond memories.

Terri A Gilbert ’65

Bates Foundation Student

Memory of Iris Critchell
Submitted by Terri Gilbert

I still see us in the lemon grove—her red setter pup bounding alongside me, a descendant of the movie dog Old Yeller. I was tending to the irrigation, but really, I was being nurtured too. Living with Iris and her family was one of the most loving, powerful, and essential chapters of my life. She offered not just shelter, but a kind of fierce, graceful support that helped shape the person I’ve become.

Even now, decades later, her love continues to guide and inspire me. She embodied generosity without fanfare, brilliance without ego, and a steadiness that I reached for in times of doubt. I carry her with me—in the way I live, in the way I try to love others as she loved me.

Barry Olsan

Colleague and friend

I had the honor of knowing Iris for most of my 18 years working at Mudd. She is certainly one of the most impressive people I have ever known and a true American hero. Her exploits are extraordinary and she brought great distinction to Mudd. Iris shared many of her experiences related to the 1936 Olympic games in great detail. I was deeply saddened to hear of her passing. She was one in a million.

Terry London Rinehart

Family friend

From as far back as I can remember, Iris has been a guiding light in my life—a mentor, a pioneer, and a cherished family friend. Her story is one of extraordinary achievement, unwavering dedication, and an enduring passion for aviation and education.
Her fascination with flight led her to the University of Southern California’s Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1939, where she became the first woman to graduate from the Advanced Acrobatics course in 1940.
During World War II, Iris served with distinction as a member of the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP), ferrying aircraft such as the P-38, P-51, and P-61 Black Widow for the 6th Ferrying Group at Long Beach, California. Her squadron commander was my mother, Barbara Erickson London, and together they forged a bond that extended beyond the war.
After the war, Iris and my mother and other women aviators, founded the Long Beach Chapter of the Ninety-Nines, an organization dedicated to supporting women pilots. Their collaboration extended to the All Women’s Transcontinental Air Race, affectionately known as the Powder Puff Derby, where they served on the Board of Directors, ensuring the race’s success year after year.
Iris’s commitment to aviation education was unparalleled. In 1962, she and her husband, Howard “Critch” Critchell, established the Bates Aeronautics Program at Harvey Mudd College. They nurtured countless students, some of whom would go on to become astronauts, until the program’s conclusion in 1990.
I had the privilege of following in Critch’s footsteps, joining Western Airlines as a pilot in 1976 and eventually retiring as a 767 Captain for Delta Airlines after its merger with Western in 1987. Iris and her family have been a profound influence on my life, embodying the spirit of perseverance and excellence.
Iris’s accolades are numerous: she was inducted into the National Flight Instructors Hall of Fame in 2000, received the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in 2006, and was honored with the Nile Gold Medal by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale in 2007.
Her legacy is one of inspiration, mentorship, and trailblazing achievements. Iris passed away on January 24, 2025, in Claremont, California, at the age of 104, leaving behind a world significantly enriched by her contributions.
Iris, you will be deeply missed by me and all who had the honor of knowing you. Your indomitable spirit and dedication to aviation continue to inspire generations.
Blue skies and tailwinds.
Terry London Rinehart

Josh Berman ’95

Barnstormers, and passed my Private Pilot flight test with her :)

Iris was my Ground School instructor as part of Barnstormers, and she took me for my very first instructional flight in 1992 – a flight I’m very proud to have logged in my “Bates Aeronautics Program” Logbook 🙂 After switching to another instructor for my finish-up, I then passed my Private Pilot flight test with her in December, 1993. It took me another 14 years to fill up that Bates logbook. I treasure my memories of flying with her, and am grateful for the doors that subsequently opened to me in aviation, thanks to the start she gave me.