The 32nd Annual International Women in Aviation Conference First All-Virtual Conference

ore than 2,300 attendees from around the world and 105 companies and organizations participated in WAI’s first virtual conference on March 11 and 12, 2021, with all content available for registered attendees through March 31. WAI’s important youth outreach continued on Saturday, MarchM 13, with a virtual Girls in Aviation Day Reno. WAI CEO Allison McKay said, “We made the decision last fall— for the safety of all our attendees during the pandemic—to take our annual gathering to an all-virtual platform with the goal of delivering the same content to include a wide variety of keynote speakers and exhibitors, seven education session tracks, profes- sional development seminars and workshops, scholarship awards, and the Pioneer Hall of Fame induction ceremony.” ◗ WAI CEO Allison McKay welcomes WAI2021 attendees. During the two-day event marking Women’s History Month, WAI members and friends were able to celebrate with like-minded engineers, pilots of all levels, right through young students, and women who came together to share their passion for aviation and all aerospace professions, we are united in a desire to help one an- aerospace. “From a NASA astronaut, top-level female executives, other and further our careers and personal lives,” Allison added.

MAY/JUNE 2021 AviationforWomen 17 GENERAL SESSION KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

truly international lineup of keynote speakers delivered insights and in- spiration from a wide range of aviation/aerospace backgrounds dur- ingA Thursday and Friday General Sessions. Learn more about these female leaders and their backgrounds in the digital issues of The Daily available at www.WAI.org/21conference.

“Remember who you are, and know what you want and what makes you happy.” —Capt. Aysha Mohammed Alhamili

■ Capt. Aysha Mohammed Alhamili is the first woman in the Unit- ed Arab Emirates to earn a pilot license and the first to become a commercial pilot. She went on to serve for more than a decade as UAE’s representative to the ICAO Council—the youngest person ever to sit on the council, and the first woman to run for its presi- dency—before accepting her current position as senior adviser for international relations for UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority. See International Focus on pages 31-32.

“Bring your CODE to the table: collaborate, open, digital, empowerment. It underlines the importance of supporting each other like this WAI conference, as we are all in this together.” —Kristin Robertson

■ Kristin Robertson is vice president and general manager of Boe- ing’s Autonomous Systems and was inspired by her father (a chief engineer) and her mother (an immigrant who, at 19 years old, traveled across the Atlantic Ocean in a ship alone). She learned early on about the importance of perseverance and a solid work ethic. Her current work at Autonomous Systems can be correlated to the value of being an autonomous woman.

“Work hard to earn the trust of others. Relationships of trusts are about being forthright and not letting the people around you down.” —Dr. Heather Wilson

■ Dr. Heather Wilson, president of University of Texas at El Paso, has a wealth of aviation experience as the former secretary of the U.S. Air Force and the current chair of FAA’s Women in Aviation Advisory Board. She shared her insights about the challenges of being a leader and often the only woman in the room.

18 AviationforWomen MAY/JUNE 2021 GENERAL SESSION KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

“Don’t be intimidated. Don’t worry. If you want it, attack it, get on it. Just be the best you can be. You too can be a trailblazer in this next generation of space travel.” —Sunita Williams

■ Sunita Williams started her career as a naval aviator swimmer, but her journey from flying helicopters to becoming a NASA as- tronaut established her as a female record-holder in space. She has completed four spacewalks totaling 29 hours and 17 minutes. In addition, Sunita, who has spent a total of 322 days in space on two missions, now ranks sixth on the all-time U.S. endurance list, and second all-time for a female astronaut.

“If we don’t make efforts to hire more women in our industry, we are just not tapping into the full talent pool. Diversity does not happen by accident. It takes effort.” —Hélène Gagnon

■ Hélène Gagnon, CAE senior vice president of public affairs and global communications, is a champion of diversity and sus- tainability. She brought these insights to her executive role at CAE, a worldwide leader in technology and training based in Montreal, Canada.

“We need the presence of more females in a variety of different professions such as technical, maintenance, operations, commercial, HR, safety, security, and environment.” —Montserrat Barriga

■ Montserrat Barriga, the first female director general at Euro- pean Regions Airline Association, is passionate about her work representing more than 60 airlines and 150 associate members across Europe. Representing their interests before Europe’s major regulatory bodies, governments, and legislators, she says the pan- demic has been difficult for ERA members. Despite the challeng- es, Montserrat is planning for Europe’s future environmental plan called Destination 2050.

MAY/JUNE 2021 AviationforWomen 19 WAI2021 PIONEER HALL OF FAME

Trailblazers Honored highlight of every conference is the induction of women into WAI’s International Pioneer Hall of Fame. The WAI2021 inductees include Joan Robinson-Berry, a longtime, trailblazing Boeing executive in the field of aerospace; retiredMaj. Gen. Carol Timmons, the first woman toA lead the Delaware National Guard; and U.S. Marine Corps’ First Class of Women Aviators, a group of 10 pioneers representing the first women to go through pilot and naval flight officer training in the U.S. Marine Corps. Thank you to this year’s inductees for opening doors of opportunity for other women!

Joan Robinson-Berry

U.S. Marines Corps’ First Class of Women Aviators Maj. Gen. Carol Timmons

THURSDAY LUNCH WITH THE FAB FIVE

The U.S. Coast Guard’s five Black female pilots, dubbed the “Fab Five,” inspired attendees during the Thursday Lunch Hour with their stories of struggles and joyful moments of sisterhood and support that have helped them blaze that trail. (Learn more about the Fab Five on pages 28-30.)

20 AviationforWomen MAY/JUNE 2021 STRETCH YOUR SKILLS

Perspective Versus Perception: You Didn’t Hear What I Said I Meant EDUCATION SESSIONS 30 sessions to choose from in seven tracks With plenty of content to choose from, attendees were able to learn and view 30 education sessions at one’s own pace and schedule through March 31. These on-demand sessions were released on March 11 and 12 in seven tracks including topics related to career, flying, history, innovation, maintenance/tech ops, military; and personal development.

Financial Stability in Unexpected Turbulence

SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS On-demand sessions included a wide variety of topics featur- ing tips on Be a Mentor. Find a Mentor; Plan and Host an Out- standing Girls in Aviation Day Event; and Cleared for Takeoff: Generating Mental Lift While Grounded (presented by NGPA Women’s Committee). The annual Aerospace Educators Workshop, presented by FAA AVSED Team, provided lots of tips on how to use best prac- tices and tools for virtual learning. A series of professional de- Pilot Talent Diversity: Minority Barriers Hindering the Majority velopment seminars with inspiring content for all ages were also well received by attendees.

How to Navigate a Successful Military Transition

Flying Forward Together: Aviation Couples Building Resiliency and Promoting Progress MIND, BODY, SPIRIT Each day, attendees were invited to join on-demand sessions. Eileen Simoneau led a virtual yoga session for all levels. Lee Papa hosted two sessions: Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation, as well as Journey on a Cloud.

WAI AUTHORS CONNECT Dozens of adult and young reader aviation books were released at the virtual Authors Connect. All videos are available on de- mand on the WAI YouTube WomeninAviationIntl by searching Authors Connect. INDUSTRY BRIEFINGS Five companies offered presentations and CHAPTER NETWORK discussion groups. The WAI chapter network has reached 147 global chapters in 22 Attendees were able to learn about job opportunities at a va- countries worldwide. Several virtual meet-ups during confer- riety of organizations including Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air, ence gave members several opportunities to connect, exchange Cape Air, Federal Aviation Administration, Netflix, and United ideas, ask questions, and in general enjoy one another’s virtual Airlines. company! We can’t wait to see you all in person soon!

MAY/JUNE 2021 AviationforWomen 21 WAI2021 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

CONGRATULATIONS TO Thank You for the Support, WAI2021 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS! Generous WAI2021 Sponsors! Thanks to the support of nu- merous sponsors, 101 scholar- PRESENTING ships were distributed to WAI The Boeing Company members at every stage of life U.S. Air Force for academic use, lifestyle en- United Airlines hancement, and flight training including type ratings. A total PREMIER of $475,805 in scholarships was Airbus Americas awarded during the conference, EAA and another 48 scholarships to- Gulfstream Aerospace taling $256,000 are now on- Corporation line with applications due May JSX 18, 2021. These additional 2021 National Business Aviation spring scholarships will put the Association total scholarships awarded since NetJets/NJASAP 1995 to $14 million. UPS The winners were honored dur- ing #WAI21 with an on-demand CONTRIBUTING video that is available to all on the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air WomeninAviationIntl YouTube. ALPA CAE Collins Aerospace Kudos to Jennifer L. Meiners, ConocoPhillips California, and Nikki Bodie, Global Aviation North Carolina, for each win- FedEx Express ning an ISA+21 Type Rating General Atomics Scholarship! These type rat- JetBlue ing scholarships are for the Lockheed Martin B737 or A320 valued each at MIAT College of Technology $10,000. Thank you Interna- NATCA tional Society of Women Air- Solairus Aviation line Pilots for many years of Textron Aviation sponsoring WAI scholarships U.S. Customs with 16 scholarships total- & Border Protection ing $90,000 awarded during Walmart WAI2021. Jennifer Meiners Nikki Bodie ADDITIONAL SPONSORS Congrats to YoPro Scholarship Winners! AOPA During the YoPro Connect Forum, attendees were inspired by Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour’s advice American Express on how to approach life going forward in these unprecedented times. The first African American Aviation International News female combat pilot, FlyGirl generously donated five $1,000 Leadership Scholarships to the fol- Cape Air lowing WAI members. Executive Jet Management Natasha Blust, WAI 94642 Go Rentals Mallory Koch, WAI 93985 Michelin Aircraft Tires Sara Martinez, WAI 77026 Netflix Parisa Negahbani, WAI 89185 Piper Aircraft Shakar Soltani, WAI 84326 Pratt & Whitney They were all thrilled to re- Redbird Flight Simulations ceive this great news during Wings Financial Credit Union the Zoom session!

22 AviationforWomen MAY/JUNE 2021 GIRLS IN AVIATION DAY RENO

◗ Allison McKay, WAI CEO, talks with Jasmin Moghbeli, NASA astronaut during GIAD Reno. Free and Fun Virtual Girls in Aviation Day Reno! WAI continued its successful youth outreach with a virtual Girls in Aviation Day Reno on Saturday, March 13, when over 1,800 registrants from 16 countries were introduced to the pos- sibilities of an aviation career though interviews with Jasmin Moghbeli, NASA astronaut, and female members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. These special interviews, followed by live Q&A sessions, allowed youngsters to learn about the life of an astronaut and what it’s like to prepare to travel to space. They also learned about working for the Thunderbirds, the elite air show demonstration team. Jasmin was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candi- date Class. She reported for duty in August 2017 and, having com- ◗ Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows-Winnemucca Club House in Reno. pleted the initial astronaut candidate training, is now eligible for a mission assignment. The New York native earned a bachelor’s graduate of the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School and has accumulated degree in aerospace engineering with information technology at more than 1,600 hours of flight time and 150 combat missions. MIT, followed by a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from A unique look into the lives of an Air Force Air Demonstra- the Naval Postgraduate School. Jasmin is also a distinguished tion Squadron was highlighted by interviewers Veronica and Sara Hinesley asking questions of Maj. Michelle Curran and her crew Technical Sgt. Kristyne Pierson and Staff Sgt. Jessica English- bee. And for a look at nonpilot jobs, the Hinesley sisters also in- terviewed Capt. Katie Moorkamp, Staff Sgt. Stefanie Pascual, and Technical Sgt. Yuka Hareyama about their roles to support the F16 fleet and its squadron. (See story on pages 14-16.) The two-hour virtual session also included a short flight with Maj. Curran as the lead solo pilot, and an exclusive tour of the Thunderbirds Museum at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. All this fun and educational content can also be accessed on the ◗ (L to R) Staff Sgt. Englishbee, Maj. Curran, Technical Sgt. Pierson Aviation for Girls App year-round!

◗ (L to R) “Firefly Sisters” and GIAD participants Veronica and Sara Hinesely ◗ SrA Breanna Carter takes attendees on a virtual tour of the interview the Thunderbirds. Thunderbirds Museum.

MAY/JUNE 2021 AviationforWomen 23 NEXT YEAR IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Gaylord Opryland 33rd Annual International Resort & Convention Women in Aviation Conference Center Nashville, Tennessee March 17–19, 2022

WAI is headed to Nashville, Tennessee, and we want you to join us for WAI2022!

The 33rd Annual International Women in Aviation Conference will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, PHOTO CHRIS HOLLO PHOTO March 17-19, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. Come experience the energy and excitement of Music City at Gaylord Opryland as you network with aviation industry professionals and continue your career development at education sessions, professional development seminars, and industry briefings. Save the date for next year’s three-day gathering for more mentoring and fun!

WAI.org/22conference PHOTOS COURTESY OF NASHVILLE CONVENTION & VISITORS CORP & VISITORS CONVENTION OF NASHVILLE COURTESY PHOTOS