PETER TEAHEN is a prominent American pilot, author, mental health professional, and humanitarian based out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is widely recognized for flying light aircraft long distances around the world to raise millions of dollars for polio eradication. Teahen has been piloting small aircraft for over 53 years.
In 2023, Teahen and his co-pilot John Ockenfels completed a 25,000-mile flight around the world in a 1977 Cessna T210M single-engine aircraft. The trip raised more than $2 million for Rotary International's PolioPlus program to distribute vaccines globally.
Atlantic Route Flight (2025): In late 2025, Teahen partnered with 89-year-old pilot Ed Galkin for an 8,800-nautical-mile journey across the Atlantic Ocean (covering 11 countries in 37 days) to target remaining wild polio strongholds in countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Beyond aviation, Teahen has an extensive background in public safety, mental health support, and disaster response: He has served in leadership and mental health support roles during 75 major global disasters, including the response following the September 11th World Trade Center attacks and the 2004 Southeast Asia Tsunami. He is a highly active member of the Cedar Rapids Rotary Club and the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians.
JOHN OCKENFELS
John has been piloting small aircraft for over 51 years. Along with Peter Teahen, he is half owner of the 1977 Cessna T210 that they flew together around the world to raise funds to eradicate Polio.
He is a founding member of the Iowa City, Iowa A.M. Rotary Club, serving as President in 1998-99. He served as District Governor for Rotary District 6000 during the 2014-2015 Rotary year. In 2002, John traveled to India to take part in a National Polio Immunization Day event and the International Polio Eradication Summit in Mumbai. John has served on many District, Zone, and International Rotary committees over many years. He is a member of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians and serves as the North Central Chair for the Americas Region. He is also an adjunct member of the E-Aviation worldwide Club.