Doctor Leslie and Jack Knight are M2M “originals,” helping to make the M2M a success every year from the start. The dynamic couple swept the 2024 Orville and Wilbur Wright Awards (Best Rider and Best Support Person).

Dr Leslie Knight specializes in Family Medicine. She graduated from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (the military medical school) in 1994; then worked her Family Medicine Residency at Andrews AFB graduating 1997. She retired in 2022, having served 32 years.

Jack calls himself a “career dependent”. He is an Air Force brat; both his dad and sister are retired Chiefs and his mother also served in the Air Force. He didn’t have a military ID card for only two years, between aging out and marrying Leslie. They married after Leslie’s Junior year of college. Jack is an electrician and started his 5 year apprenticeship the same year Leslie started medical school. As Leslie relayed in one of the funniest speeches ever delivered at a M2M HOF induction / Storytelling dinner, “I love cycling and Jack loves me!” Hence the two have become the dream cyclist/support team of the M2M. Leslie first joined the Air Force Cycling Team in 2014 and has ridden several RAGBRAIs. She and Jack helped spearhead the inaugural M2M in 2022 and have been all in ever since. Leslie earned the prestigious M2M-MCM coin in 2022 placing her among the initial dozen recipients. To date, only 29 super athletes carry the coin. (One earns the coin by riding the entire M2M and running the entire Marine Corps Marathon (MCM)).

Dr Leslie Knight has been the “M2M doctor” since its inception. She has helped many riders along the way…a broken collar bone, mild concussion, cramps, and road rash. She has overseen nurses and EMTs each year in this role. Often helping someone means giving up her spot in a pace line and doubling back…and she does this without giving a thought to her own riding goals and energy level .  She also performs “house calls” in the evenings when she would otherwise be sleeping. Service before self! In addition to being a strong rider and the M2M Doctor, Leslie was the original and an ongoing sponsor of financial aid to E-6 and below riders. She served as a HOF board member for two years. She is a M2M fundraiser for the Wounded Airmen and Guardians Project. 

Jack Knight defines service. In addition to supporting the E-6 and below financial aid fund, he gives and gives and gives. He donates a week of his life to support the M2M each year, taking unpaid leave from work to do so. Every year he drives his personal SUV to the M2M to lead the critical 25-mile and the final hydration / snack stop each day. Jack also helps other support vehicles get organized each day. This means planning, shopping, distributing drinks, food, and coolers, and importantly being there when the riders show up. Many of the riders take it for granted that Jack and his team of volunteers will be there. Fortunately for the riders, he is always there and has saved many riders from dehydration. 

Jack is the guy each evening running to the store to resupply the support vehicles and Leslie’s medical supplies. He is the guy making sure the vehicles have spare tubes and parts for broken down riders. He is the guy cleaning up after all the riders depart making sure no trash is left behind. Jack is the silent altruistic gentleman making the M2M experience great for all participants.

Back in 2008, Jack won the “Wing Volunteer of the Year” at Yokota Air Base, a precursor to his work at the M2M. Now, the M2M and hundreds of cyclists benefit from this talented electrician with a kind soul. Thanks Jack!

Dr Leslie and Jack Knight are M2M foundational heroes! Their work has allowed the M2M to accelerate its goals of “Celebrating USAF Heritage, Promoting Fitness and Recruiting, and Supporting our Wounded Airmen and Guardians.” 

Originally from Pennsylvania, USAF CMSgt Kevin Dwyer joined the Air Force in 1997, and is still serving 26 years later. Currently he is the Deputy Commandant at the Career Enlisted Aviator Center of Excellence, the Senior Enlisted Leader of Air Force Reserve Command’s Undergraduate Flying Training Program, a Boom Operator, and the Team Lead of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Air Force Cycling Team.

Kevin was an avid cyclist in his younger years and helped put himself through Penn State University working as a bike technician where he assembled over 25,000 bikes. This experience has proved invaluable to the M2M. His generosity with his time and his superior bike mechanic skills have helped many M2M riders. Daily, you can find Kevin not only fixing a bike but often making several adjustments to improve the bike’s performance and all the while explaining what he is doing such that the rider becomes a better mechanic.

On his very first ride with the Air Force Cycling Team at the Museum of Aviation Marathon, he was paired up with the fastest disabled rider. Initially this sounded like an easy mission. Tasked with staying a minimum of 6’ out in front of his rider, Kevin had to average over 24 mph in 34-degree weather. Power is Kevin on a bike!

Kevin assembled the current Oklahoma team. In Oklahoma’s first year, the team participated in 22 organized races and rides across Oklahoma and sent 6 to M2M. Kevin, as the M2M Support Director, takes on the enormous task of organizing the M2M luggage trucks, support vehicles, and all the hydration stops.  

In addition to being the M2M Support Director, brilliant mechanic, and strong rider, Kevin is an inspiration to all. On Day 1 and Day 4 of M2M, you can find Kevin often in the lead of fastest paceline, but ever vigilant of the value of mentorship he also chooses to ride Day 2 and 3 with members of the team that cannot maintain the lead peloton’s lightning speed. One day, after having already ridden 82 miles, he rode back 19 miles to recover one of his fellow teammates who was facing exhaustion. Incredibly, he took care of the rider and led him to safely finish, a feat the rider thought was impossible.

It is often said, if you don’t know Kevin at the beginning of this ride, you will by the end. Kevin is all in. There are many stories that all point to Kevin never missing a chance to promote the M2M and to inspire every participant. If you have ridden the M2M, you know Kevin and have felt his inspiration.  

USAF CMSgt (Ret) Mark Wilder grew up in England a dual national and enlisted in the USAF in 1983 at RAF Mildenhall. Mark Served for 26 years as an F-15/F-22 avionics troop. He “retired” out of Langley AFB in 2009 as the 1st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Chief and has continued to serve the U.S. Air Force ever since as a Government Civilian at HQ Air Combat Command on F-22 Weapons System Team.

Mark has always been a bike rider no matter where the Air Force planted him and his family. From 2011 to 2013 he participated in the multi-day Ride 2 Recovery Memorial Ride from Washington DC to Virginia Beach raising approximately $15,000 to benefit injured veterans. In 2013, he began his journey with the Air Force Cycling Team and became the National Capitol Region Team Lead. He coached his team and planned all its logistics and rode in six RAGBRAIs from 2013 to 2018.  

In 2022, Mark jumped in to provide invaluable leadership to the M2M. He planned and executed the first M2M dinner, finding the perfect venue at the Virginia War Museum. He built the plaque commemorating the Inaugural M2M which is on display at the museum to this day. In 2023, Mark took on the responsibility of organizing the annual Wounded Airmen’s Dinner on Day 1 each year. This dinner has grown into one the M2M’s most memorable events. 

In 2023, Mark set the foundation for future Air Force flybys at the M2M by gaining SAF/PA, ACC, and FAA approvals. Thanks to Mark, the M2M now has a flyby at its opening ceremony. Additionally, Mark continues to lead a peer-to-peer fundraising effort that annually helps the M2M achieve its fundraising goal for the AFA’ Wounded Airmen and Guardians program.  

With Mark’s strong riding and his many planning initiatives in the first three M2Ms, his leadership has become invaluable to the M2M. 

From North Carolina, Jack joined the Air Force in 1962 and served for 22 years retiring as a CMSgt in 1984. Jack loved the Air Force and only retired out of necessity for family reasons.

Jack got the M2M off to the greatest of starts…which was super important to the success of the Inaugural M2M. Jack organized Day 1. Among the many contributions, Jack worked with the National Park Service to allow the M2M private use of the Wright Brothers’ Memorial prior to the Park’s normal opening time. He recruited the local bike shop to be available to help riders assemble/fix bikes both on Day 0 and early in the morning on Day 1. Working with local police departments, he designed the route for Day 1 and organized almost non-stop police escorts. He cajoled a professional photographer to donate her services and drone support. Jack also personally drove Day 1’s straggler vehicle ensuring everyone had a successful day. He worked with the local city councils and police departments all along the route both before and after the ride to set the foundation for the ride’s growth into America’s favorite ride.

 

Jack didn’t begin cycling until age 65 and then his athleticism, discipline, and natural talent took over. Within the first year, he won the NC State Senior Games. The following year, he won the Virginia State Senior Games 5k and 10k races; and followed that by winning Calvin’s Challenge 12-hour race in Ohio, his first ultra-marathon, by riding 197 miles. The following year he broke Calvin Challenge’s record for his age bracket (65-69) by riding 209 miles.  Then twice, in the 70-74 age bracket, he won the Mid-Atlantic 100-mile race (his best time was 5h 25m). During this period, he started the Outer Banks Silver Riders bike group for people in their 50s to 90s. He coached several riders to county and state podium positions and one to a national title.

From Oakland CA, Steve joined the Air Force in 1976 and served for 28 years retiring as a CMSgt in 2003.

 Steve was instrumental in making the Inaugural M2M a super success. Among his many contributions, he led all fundraisers in raising money for the Wounded Airmen Program, worked with AFA to create the peer-to-peer fundraising mechanism for the M2M’s WAP efforts, and he successfully engaged sponsors for the M2M itself. He recruited the Sergeants Association to supply the Day 1 break and the Williamsburg VFW to provide the Day 2 lunch at Jamestown. He donated the use of his personal vehicle and recruited the volunteer driver to provide a support vehicle. He also provided straggler duty as a rider during one of the days ensuring no one was left behind. He earned the M2M’s initial Wilbur Wright Award for the best support person of the Inaugural M2M. 

 

Steve is a master cyclist. He rode RAGBRAI on the Air Force Cycling Team in 2001. Since retiring, Steve has ridden 25,000 miles for charity including two cross country rides. He has raised approximately $40,000 for veterans and first responders. Despite having lost function in one leg, he hopes to continue riding to help others and give back. Steve remains an active participant and supporter in the M2M.