Educators and Training Professionals on US DOT Women in Aviation Board

Several professional educators and training leaders are among the 30 members appointed to the US Department of Transportation’s Women in Aviation Advisory Board (WIAAB). Among them are Crystal Barrios, a Delta Air Lines FO and Manager of Pilot Development; Dana Donati, GM at Republic Airways’ LIFT Academy; Dr. Karrie Dixon, Chancellor of the University of North Carolina Elizabeth City campus; Lindsey Dreiling, Aviation Strategy Executive Director at Kansas State University; Dr. Rebecca Lutte, University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute associate professor; and Suzanne Markle, President/CEO of the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics.

Dr. Heather Wilson, President of the University of Texas at El Paso and a former US Air Force Secretary, will serve as chair.

“Women are underrepresented in aviation. I look forward to working with the FAA and the advisory board to develop strategies that will encourage more women to consider careers in the aviation industry,” Dr. Wilson said.

The WIAAB was established last October under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. The purpose of the WIAAB is to develop strategies and recommendations that would encourage women and girls to enter the field of aviation. The WIAAB will assess education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment of women in the aviation industry.

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson added, “We salute the WIAAB’s new board members for their commitment to illuminate this career path for more women.”

Board members represent a diverse range of backgrounds and expertise, including those from major airlines and aerospace companies, nonprofit organizations within the aviation industry, aviation and engineering business associations, the US Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol, and institutions of higher education and aviation trade schools.

A full list of appointees and their biographies is available to download here.