WAI On Air Podcast

Rethink Impossible: Jessica Cox | On Air S2E12

Meet Jessica Cox, the world's first licensed armless pilot. Adaptability has defined Jessica Cox's life. Refusing to see herself as different, she mastered everyday tasks with her feet and continually defied expectations. Her lifetime of adapting led her to become a fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo and the world's first licensed armless pilot. Jessica's journey, from dreaming of flying on the playground to achieving extraordinary feats, epitomizes the limitless potential of an adaptable mindset. She founded Rightfooted Foundation International (RFI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to arm children born with bilateral limb difference with the skills and tools needed to live independent and fulfilling lives. Through their unique programs, Jessica is leading the charge in changing perceptions of people with disabilities while advocating for accessibility and inclusion. This effort includes her Life With Feet channel on YouTube, which to date has more than 1.7 million views and 10.2K subscribers.🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. 📲 Follow us on Spotify: WAI On Air Podcast #WomeninAviationInternational #IamWAI #WeAreWAI #Aviation #Aerospace #WAITogether #WAIOnAir #WAIPodcast #AviationPodcast #Rightfooted #ImpossibleAirplane #VansRV10

CNN's Pete Muntean on Aviation, Loss, and Finding His Path | On Air S2E11

Pete Muntean is a CNN correspondent based in Washington, D.C. A pilot and flight instructor, he covers aviation and transportation as well as general assignment stories for the network.Pete came to CNN in 2020 after a decade in local news. He was the transportation reporter for WUSA9 in Washington, D.C. where he detailed chronic safety problems on the Metro public transit system and led the station’s coverage of air disasters including the Boeing 737 Max and the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant.Prior, Pete covered the State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for WGAL News 8. There, he covered two gubernatorial administrations, a months-long state government shutdown, and earned an Emmy nomination for exposing wasteful spending by state lawmakers. He reported on the Penn State child sex abuse scandal and the trial of Jerry Sandusky from start to finish.Pete draws on his knowledge from a lifetime in aviation. Taught by his late parents, he’s been flying airplanes since he was a teenager and now mentors new pilots and competes in aerobatic flying competitions. He holds a commercial license and is a Certificated Flight Instructor - Instrument.Pete began his broadcasting career as an intern at CNN Center in Atlanta, working under former CNN anchor and correspondent Miles O’Brien. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism.🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. 📲 Follow us on Spotify: WAI On Air Podcast #WomeninAviationInternational #IamWAI #WeAreWAI #Aviation #Aerospace #WAITogether #WAIOnAir #WAIPodcast #AviationPodcast

Changing Course: Amy Tomlinson |OnAirS2E10

Meet Amy Tomlinson—the Blue Angels' first female weapons system officer— who leads drone delivery at Amazon Prime Air. Amy has over 25 years of leadership and management experience including a strong background in instructing, mentoring, and program/project management. Her skills include combat operations, flight training, team building, planning, risk management, data analysis, public speaking and personnel management.  Amy served her country as a Naval Aviator for 21 years, flying in the F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Officer and accumulating over 1600 flight hours and 220 carrier arrested landings. She was the first female weapons system officer (aviator) ever selected to serve with the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy’s flight demonstration squadron.  With a BA in public relations from the University of Southern California and her MBA from Santa Clara University she lives in Pacific Grove, California, with her husband and two children. She was elected to serve her community as a City Council Member from 2018-2022 and four years ago joined Amazon as a Senior Program Manager. In her most recent role, Amy has taken on the exciting challenge of advancing cutting-edge technology of commercial drone delivery at Amazon Prime Air. In this position, she leverages her aviation background and leadership skills to drive forward Amazon's innovative drone delivery program, helping to shape the future of logistics and last-mile delivery solutions. 🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.  📲 Follow us on Spotify: WAI On Air Podcast  #WomeninAviationInternational #IamWAI #WeAreWAI #Aviation #Aerospace #WAITogether #WAIOnAir #WAIPodcast #AviationPodcast #BlueAngels #DroneDelivery

First. Fast. Fearless - Beyond the Thunderbirds: Caroline "Blaze" Jensen | On Air S2E9

Meet Caroline "Blaze" Jensen, a 1998 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, a retired fighter pilot, and veteran. She is a highly experienced leader, command pilot, instructor pilot and evaluator. During her time in the Air Force, she accumulated over 3,500 hours in Schwitzer 2-33 gliders, Cessna 172, T-37B Tweet, T-38 Talon, and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. She was the first femalereserve officer to fly for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron (Thunderbirds), and was the first woman qualified to fly in the Air Force’s new jet trainer, the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk. Blaze has worked extensively with leading teams in and out of the cockpit. Her flight experience includes 1,870 hours in the F-16 (200 combat hours) and over 1,500 hours instructing in the T-38 Talon. She fondly remembers flying in the #3 Right Wing position for the Thunderbirds and her time in OPERATION IRAQIFREEDOM supporting US and allied troops on the ground. Outside the cockpit she served as a Legislative Fellow in the Secretary of the Air Force Legislative Liaison Senate office and later for a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. She led flight operations and personnel of the 64th AggressorSquadron and served as Deputy Commander for more than 300 personnel across five geographically separated units working in Space, Space and Weapons Test, Aggressor, and USAF Weapons School missions while in the Air Force.  Blaze is a mother to Finn, who has the distinction of being the first child in the U.S. to see his mother fly in an advanced jet aerobatic demonstration. She resides in Las Vegas with her dog, Gunner.  She is a dynamic motivational speaker who inspires others to be "Brilliant Under Pressure" by sharing lessons learned as an F-16 combat pilot and Thunderbird demonstration pilot.  🎧Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.  📲Follow us on Spotify: WAI On Air Podcast  #WomeninAviationInternational#IamWAI #WeAreWAI #Aviation #Aerospace #WAITogether #WAIOnAir #WAIPodcast#AviationPodcast

From Vision to a Global Aviation Network: Dr. Peggy Chabrian | On Air S2E8

Meet Dr. Peggy Chabrian Dr. Peggy Chabrian is the founder of Women in Aviation International and retired as WAI president/CEO in September 2019. She grew the organization from its first conference attended by 150 people in 1990 to an organization representing thousands of women in all aspects of aviation today. A long-time aviation enthusiast and professional aviation educator, Peggy is a 2,800-hour commercial/instrument multi-engine pilot and flight instructor who has been flying for over 45 years. She also holds helicopter and seaplane ratings to her flight qualifications. Peggy currently enjoys flying her Cessna 150. Prior to her founding Women in Aviation International, she held several top positions in aviation education including Academic Dean and Associate Vice President of Parks College; Dean of Academic Support for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Prescott, Arizona campus; Director of the Center of Excellence for Aviation/Space Education at ERAU's Daytona Beach campus; and Department Chair of the aviation department at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. She currently owns Chabrian Aviation, a consulting business and serves as an online adjunct faculty member for Liberty University's School of Aeronautics in their PhD and Master’s degree programs. Peggy was enshrined into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in September 2024, and is also the recipient of the National Aeronautics Association’s Brewer Award for Aviation Education, the Wesley McDonald Distinguished Statesman & Stateswoman of Aviation Award, and the Henderson Trophy in 2020. She has received the FAA Administrator's Award for Excellence in Aviation Education and the Vision Award from Business and Commercial Aviation magazine. She was inducted into the Crown Circle of the National Congress on Aviation and Space Education. Available on Spofity, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. Follow us on Spotify: WAI On Air Podcast #WomeninAviationInternational #IamWAI #WeAreWAI #Aviation #Aerospace #WAITogether #WAIOnAir #WAIPodcast #AviationPodcast