Pacific Airshow Hometown Hero Jonathan St. Clair to Fly with U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach is proud to recognize Orange County resident and drowning prevention advocate Jonathan St. Clair as its 2026 Hometown Hero, with St. Clair set to take to the skies with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds on Friday.

St. Clair was selected in recognition of his extraordinary commitment to drowning prevention and water safety, a mission born from unimaginable personal loss.

In 2014, Jonathan and his wife, Julie, lost their 21-month-old son, Jasper, in a drowning accident. In the wake of that tragedy, they founded the Jasper Ray Foundation, turning their grief into a mission to help protect other children and families.

For more than a decade, the foundation has worked to increase awareness of drowning prevention and educate families about practical steps they can take to keep children safer around water.

Jonathan's advocacy has also grown far beyond Orange County. He currently serves as a board member and treasurer of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, helping advance water-safety awareness on a national level.

Most recently, that mission took him on an extraordinary journey across America through the Wave Maker Tour, a 30-day trip to all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums to raise awareness about drowning prevention.

At every stop, Jonathan wore the same life jacket. The simple but deliberate gesture was designed to make people curious, start conversations and create opportunities to share potentially lifesaving water-safety messages with families and fans across the country.

Now, his journey is bringing him home.

On Friday, Jonathan will experience the ride of a lifetime with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds as Pacific Airshow's Hometown Hero, ahead of the team's appearance at Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach.

For an Orange County local who has dedicated his life to helping families stay safe around water, the flight is a fitting recognition of a mission that began at home and has since reached communities across the nation.

The USAF Thunderbird’s Hometown Hero program recognizes remarkable members of the local community whose service, leadership and commitment have made a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Congratulations, Jonathan. We can't wait to see our 2026 Hometown Hero take flight with the Thunderbirds!