Rochester, NY – June 26, 2025 — The Honor Flight Rochester, Inc. (HFR) Board of Directors has named Kim Gould as the next President of Honor Flight Rochester, effective July 1, 2025. Gould will become the fifth president of HFR, succeeding Rich Stewart, who has served as President since 2013. Stewart will remain active with HFR as a member of the Board of Directors and in other leadership and volunteer capacities.
Gould is a co-founder of Honor Flight Rochester and an original member of its Board of Directors. She has served in nearly every volunteer capacity since the organization’s inception in 2008—including traveling on missions, making Veteran calls, and supporting departures and Welcome Home celebrations. Gould was also part of the very first Honor Flight Rochester mission, Mission 1, in October 2008.
“Kim has been devoted to our mission from day one,” said outgoing President Rich Stewart. “Her leadership, compassion, and commitment to honoring our Veterans make her the ideal person to guide Honor Flight Rochester into the future.”
Gould’s late husband, Jeff Gould, was also a beloved volunteer, and together they have left a lasting legacy of service within the Honor Flight family. Kim is also credited with choosing HFR’s now-iconic orange shirts, a practical decision to help team members remain visible during missions—one that has since become a symbol of the organization’s identity and spirit.
The Board’s Selection Committee—composed of Stewart, Treasurer Frank Vavrick, Secretary Dave Timmons, and Board Chairman and Co-Founder Peter J. Glennon—unanimously selected Gould after a thoughtful process.
“Kim brings heart, experience, and a deep understanding of who we are and why we do what we do,” said Glennon. “As we continue our mission of showing our community’s gratitude to our area Veterans, Kim is the right person to lead Honor Flight Rochester forward.”
“It’s an honor to return to the Board in this role,” said Gould. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead such an extraordinary organization that continues to express our community’s gratitude to our Veterans in such a meaningful way.”
The HFR Board now consists of Gould, Frank Vavrick, David Timmons, Rich Stewart, and Board Chairman Peter J. Glennon.
As of June 2025, Honor Flight Rochester has escorted 4,594 Veterans on 90 missions to Washington, D.C. to visit their memorials. Mission 91 is scheduled to fly September 20, 2025, continuing HFR’s tradition of recognizing the service and sacrifice of our region’s Veterans from WWII, the Korean War, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War.
To learn more or to get involved with Honor Flight Rochester, visit www.HonorFlightRochester.org.