Dr. Dudley Pewitt was born in 1930 in Franklin, Tennsessee. Educated at Vanderbilt and USC, he received the MBA, MS and PhD degrees. He joined the U.S. Air Force after Vanderbilt and a distinguished career followed as a test pilot and a combat pilot. His combat in Vietnam was in the F-4 Phantom, and he lead Operation Linebacker II. He received 30 medals, including the Silver Star, retiring from the Air Force in 1973 with the rank of Colonel.

After retirement, he came to Birmingham and joined the faculty of UAB as a senior member of the School of Business, where he rose to administrative rank of Senior Vice President, and to the academic rank of Distinguished Professor. He served as a charter member of the Birmingham Airport Authority for 10 years. he became Chairman of the Board of the Southern Museum of Flight in 1993,and the added duties of Executive Director of the museum in 1995. As a result of his military, business, academic and community servie background, and his wide knowledge of aircraft, he has been able to produce an astounding growth in the Southern Museum of Flight. The number of aircraft at the museum has doubled, and the museum has acquired a national status never before enjoyed.