The Dames
Carol Dean
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International Gulfstream captain, long‑haul Boeing freight pilot, and passionate mentor, Carol Dean is dedicated to lifting the next generation and giving back to the industry she loves. She currently flies the Boeing 777 for FedEx and continues as a Gulfstream G550 captain and pilot broker through her company, TopJets LLC.
Carol served on Gulfstream’s GV Design Build Team, including test‑flying the experimental GV for FAA certification, becoming the first woman to fly the aircraft. She has extensive experience flying VIPs and teaching royal squadrons, Fortune 100, presidential, and military flight crews. She also served as an FAA‑designated GV pilot examiner and a JAA‑designated GV type check airman. Named an Outstanding and Notable Woman in Air and Space by the International Women’s Air and Space Museum, Carol continues to inspire future aviators through her leadership, outreach, and lifelong passion for flight.
Cheryl Pitzer
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Cheryl Pitzer is a respected aviation leader with decades of experience in flight operations, training, and mentorship. She flew wide‑body international aircraft at FedEx, serving as MD‑11 Fleet Chief Pilot and Duty Officer, and also held roles as instructor, check airman, and FAA designee.
Cheryl created FedEx’s “Eyes on Lives” program, ensuring safe, comfortable handling of animals in transit, and has been a featured speaker at multiple Women in Aviation International annual conference workshops representing FedEx. She and her husband Peter now fly their two Husky aircraft together and recently added a helicopter to their home fleet. A longtime volunteer pilot for Orbis International’s Flying Eye Hospital, Cheryl’s leadership, compassion, and dedication to mentoring others exemplify the spirit of aviation excellence and service.
Christine Kelley
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Christine Kelley is a pioneering aviator, retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, and F‑35 instructor pilot for Lockheed Martin at Eglin Air Force Base. She was the first woman to fly the F‑35 Lightning II in 2015, having previously flown the F‑15E Strike Eagle and accumulated more than 2,800 military flight hours with over 500 combat hours during her 20‑year Air Force career.
In 2011, she led the first combat mission planned, briefed, launched, and flown entirely by women. She served as Squadron Commander and Deputy Commander of the 33rd Operations Group at Eglin AFB and now trains F‑35 pilots in simulators and academics. Her distinguished service has been recognized with multiple military decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal, reflecting her leadership, professionalism, and impact in military aviation.
Elizabeth Dornak
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Elizabeth Dornak is Director of Aviation at DuPont, where she oversees the company’s global flight operations and aviation management. She has served on the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Board of Directors since 2007 and was selected to represent the board on the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), reflecting her leadership in global business aviation governance. Dornak has also served as Chair of the NBAA Board of Directors and contributed to NBAA’s Operations Committee and the Certified Aviation Manager Governing Board.
She is type‑rated in Gulfstream, Hawker, and Citation aircraft and holds an ATP certificate with more than 8,u500 flight hours. A graduate of Purdue University with further training in aviation safety from the University of Southern California, Elizabeth combines operational expertise with industry leadership. A valued volunteer at youth outreach events, she continues to inspire and mentor future aviators through her engagement and dedication to the aviation community.
Christie Meyers
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Christie Meyers is a Spirit Airlines A320 series pilot with more than three decades of flight experience. She began her aviation career in corporate flying, piloting Sabreliners and Citations before transitioning to the airline environment.
Christie is deeply committed to aviation outreach and safety. She volunteers as an FAA Safety Team Representative, is an active member of the Yankee Ladies chapter of Women in Aviation International, and serves on the Rosie the Riveter Drill Team at the Yankee Air Museum. She is also the Detroit coordinator for Pilots For Kids, bringing aviation experiences to children and families through community engagement.
Theresa Claiborne
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Theresa Claiborne is a trailblazing aviator and retired United Airlines Boeing 787 captain. In 1982, she made history as the first African American woman pilot in the United States Air Force and later became the first African American female aircraft commander and instructor pilot on the KC-135.
A co-founder of Sisters of the Skies, Theresa continues to inspire future aviators through mentorship, leadership, and her enduring commitment to excellence. Her extraordinary career has been recognized with some of aviation’s highest honors, including the Katherine Wright Trophy, induction into the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals Hall of Fame, the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame, the Tuskegee Airmen Award of Merit, and the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Aviation Inspiration Award—a testament to her lasting impact on aviation history.
Olga Custodio
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Olga Custodio is a pioneering aviator whose distinguished career spans both military and commercial aviation. She was the first Latina to complete U.S. Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training and went on to become the first Latina U.S. Air Force instructor pilot and check airman. After retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel following 24 years of service, she continued breaking barriers as the first Latina airline pilot for American Airlines.
Her remarkable achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious honors, including the Hispanic Heritage Foundation STEM Award, induction into the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame, and the Air Education and Training Command Aviation Safety Award. She will also be inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame, a tribute to her enduring leadership, historic accomplishments, and lasting impact on aviation.
Cassandra Bosco
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A 35-year veteran of the aviation industry, Cassandra Bosco is president of TailWinds Communications, where she provides strategic planning, communications, event management, and educational program development services to the aviation and aerospace community. She is a Women in Aviation International Founding Board Member and an inductee of the WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame.
Cassandra’s leadership and lifelong dedication to aviation education have been recognized with numerous prestigious honors, including the National Aeronautic Association Distinguished Stateswoman of Aviation (2021) and the Frank G. Brewer Trophy (2023), one of the nation’s highest awards for contributions to aerospace education.
Lyndse Costabile
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Lyndse Costabile is an aviation entrepreneur, pilot, and founder of From Sacrifice to Soaring, a flight‑training initiative that brings opportunities to individuals facing adversity. She also co‑founded Aviation Influence, Inc., a nonprofit that has inspired thousands of youth, facilitated major outreach events, and helped secure significant funding for STEM and aviation scholarships and programming.
With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit and corporate aviation leadership, Lyndse has helped raise millions to support aviation education and workforce development. She organizes large‑scale aviation events such as Girls in Aviation Day and Take FLIGHT with AVi, elevating hands‑on exposure to aviation and STEAM careers for students and families.
Crystal Kubeczka
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Crystal Kubeczka is President and CEO of Paragon Aviation Group, a global network of independent FBOs and aviation service partners. She also serves as Executive Director for the Chief Pilots Roundtable and contributes to the NBAA International Operators Steering Committee and Scheduler and Dispatcher Committee.
Her aviation career began as a licensed dispatcher for Part 135/91 operations and progressed through leadership roles at Air Routing International, FlightSafety International, and UAS International Trip Support. With deep expertise in aviation leadership, sales, and strategic planning, Crystal is recognized for fostering strong industry relationships and advancing the global aviation community.
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