TYLER, TX, September 14, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Matt Jackson has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Jackson's distinguished career in aviation and transportation maintenance spans five decades, marked by technical mastery, leadership and a steadfast commitment to safety and innovation. Since 2024, he has served as the director of maintenance at Custom Inc., where he manages a fleet of 1,100 pieces of transportation equipment across nine terminals. In this capacity, Mr. Jackson oversees all maintenance operations, coordinates emergency breakdown responses. His responsibilities also include managing mechanics and maintenance assets while ensuring operational continuity around the clock.

Additionally, Mr. Jackson has contributed his expertise as a volunteer pilot and aircraft maintenance technician at the Mid America Flight Museum in Mount Pleasant, Texas, since 2015. In this role, he maintains and flies historic aircraft, sharing his passion for aviation with museum visitors and supporting educational outreach efforts.

For nearly half a century prior to these roles, Mr. Jackson owned and operated Classic Airworks from 1976 to 2024. He founded the company while still in high school, inspired by his father's legacy as a U.S. Air Force mechanic and pilot and family business owner. Under Mr. Jackson's leadership, Classic Airworks became renowned for its excellence in aircraft maintenance, engine overhaul and air frame repair.

Mr. Jackson's reputation as a skilled pilot and technician was also solidified through his 25-year career in unlimited propeller-driven aircraft racing. He achieved multiple first-place finishes in the unlimited division, secured victory in the silver division and placed numerous times in second place in the gold division. Surviving this inherently dangerous sport without serious injury and flying the fastest propeller driven aircraft in the world stands among Mr. Jackson's proudest accomplishments. His highest proclaimed achievement is the raising of his six boys and two girls along with his wife Cheryl. Four of Matt's sons are or have been in the military with three sons having served in Combat. His oldest son Matt Jr. is a retired highly decorated EOD Bomb specialist for multiple combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan who has been showcased on CBS Evening News and Fox Network. Son Simon is a six year Marine who later attended Columbia University and is now attending law school. Son Jacob is a Naval Surface Warfare officer who just recently returned from Rhode Spain. Son Daniel a graduate from Baylor University is a corporate jet pilot in Cleveland Ohio. His son Nathaniel is an Air Force Public Relations officer in Okinawa Japan. His oldest daughter Megan is an Heart Ultra Sound Specialist in Fort Worth Texas. His son Samuel a High School Senior will be heading off to Texas A&M and daughter Michaela is a junior high school student still at home.

Mr. Jackson's expertise extended into the film and entertainment industry as a stunt pilot. Over a more than 15-year professional relationship with actor Tom Cruise, he helped built Cruise's P-51 Mustang aircraft and provided flight instruction on the plane, a collaboration that remains notable within aviation circles.

Mr. Jackson's academic foundation includes a education in business management at Cal State Northridge. His formal education has been complemented by practical certifications, such as an License to fly "all makes and Models multi and single engine experimental aircraft" commercial truck driver license with liquid and hazmat endorsements. These credentials have enabled Mr. Jackson to excel in both the aviation and transportation sectors.

Aside from his education, Mr. Jackson's professional affiliations have included membership in Quiet Birdmen, an exclusive aviators' fraternity, as well as active involvement with Chabad of Plano / Collin County. Also known for his advocacy of family values and community involvement, he and his wife Cheryl support local charities.

Throughout his career, Mr. Jackson has received significant recognition for his contributions to aviation safety and technical excellence. He is a recipient of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the Federal Aviation Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation, honoring more than 50 years of safe flight operations. Mr. Jackson also holds the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic 50-Year Award from the same agency for his longstanding dedication to aircraft maintenance.

The values underpinning Mr. Jackson's achievements are deeply rooted in his upbringing. Raised in Southern California, by parents who endured the Great Depression, he was taught the importance of hard work, responsibility and perseverance from an early age. His father's two-decade service as a U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant and pilot, followed by entrepreneurship in aviation, provided both inspiration and opportunity for Mr. Jackson to pursue his own path in the field.

Looking ahead, Mr. Jackson remains dedicated to his work at Custom Transport and to volunteering at local museums. He emphasizes that he intends to remain active professionally for as long as possible, finding fulfillment in ongoing engagement with both industry and community. Mr. Jackson's life reflects a legacy built on technical excellence, unwavering work ethic and devotion to family, qualities that continue to define his impact on those around him and on the broader fields of aviation and transportation maintenance.

# # #