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Aviation has played a crucial role in shaping Kay’s life. With a background as an Aerospace Engineer and a skilled pilot herself, she finds immense fulfillment in instilling a renewed sense of wonder among children during these challenging times overshadowed by the COVID era. Flying has been a source of endless joy for her since age 12, and now she aspires to contribute back to the very system that has enriched her life. Her dedication led her to become the Founder and Executive Director of STEM Aviation Academy, where she seeks to create a lasting impact, making it her enduring legacy.
The academy holds a special place in Kay’s heart as it combines her two greatest passions: nurturing young minds and fostering a deep connection to aviation. In 2014, Kay was hired to start up the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) You Can Fly program and serve as the AOPA Ambassador for Western U.S. She helped to quickly grow this start-up to a $6M program. Prior to joining AOPA, Kay had a fulfilling career in the aerospace industry for 20 years.
Kay is an active flight instructor in San Diego and enjoys flying Cirrus and Cessna aircraft. She is an FAA Commercial Pilot and Multi-Engine Instrument Flight Instructor, FAA Advanced and Instrument Ground Instructor, Cirrus Instructor, and holds advanced degrees in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University and Stanford University.
Aviation has played a crucial role in shaping Kay’s life. With a background as an Aerospace Engineer and a skilled pilot herself, she finds immense fulfillment in instilling a renewed sense of wonder among children during these challenging times overshadowed by the COVID era. Flying has been a source of endless joy for her since age 12, and now she aspires to contribute back to the very system that has enriched her life. Her dedication led her to become the Founder and Executive Director of STEM Aviation Academy, where she seeks to create a lasting impact, making it her enduring legacy.
The academy holds a special place in Kay’s heart as it combines her two greatest passions: nurturing young minds and fostering a deep connection to aviation. In 2014, Kay was hired to start up the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) You Can Fly program and serve as the AOPA Ambassador for Western U.S. She helped to quickly grow this start-up to a $6M program. Prior to joining AOPA, Kay had a fulfilling career in the aerospace industry for 20 years.
Kay is an active flight instructor in San Diego and enjoys flying Cirrus and Cessna aircraft. She is an FAA Commercial Pilot and Multi-Engine Instrument Flight Instructor, FAA Advanced and Instrument Ground Instructor, Cirrus Instructor, and holds advanced degrees in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University and Stanford University.
From 1991 to 2005, Reg served as the Senior Partner in charge of the aviation consulting business of the world’s largest management and technology consulting company, Booz Allen Hamilton. His clients included FAA, NTSB, NASA ASRS, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and international Air Traffic Control organizations. In contracts with the FAA Headquarters, he helped design the first two generations of GPS approaches, map the way for ADS-B, searched for alternate means of navigation in the event of GPS outages, conducted a long-term study of runway incursions and runway safety, and led the restructuring of the FAA.
Reg is an experienced pilot with more than 6,500 hours of experience with the bulk of his time in the King Air C90A/B aircraft and Aerostar 602-P Superstar. He holds an FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate and FAA single-engine land and multi-engine land, helicopter, and remote pilot certificates.
Reg holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, and a Master’s Degree and Ph.D. from the University of Miami, Florida.
From 1991 to 2005, Reg served as the Senior Partner in charge of the aviation consulting business of the world’s largest management and technology consulting company, Booz Allen Hamilton. His clients included FAA, NTSB, NASA ASRS, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and international Air Traffic Control organizations. In contracts with the FAA Headquarters, he helped design the first two generations of GPS approaches, map the way for ADS-B, searched for alternate means of navigation in the event of GPS outages, conducted a long-term study of runway incursions and runway safety, and led the restructuring of the FAA.
Reg is an experienced pilot with more than 6,500 hours of experience with the bulk of his time in the King Air C90A/B aircraft and Aerostar 602-P Superstar. He holds an FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate and FAA single-engine land and multi-engine land, helicopter, and remote pilot certificates.
Reg holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, and a Master’s Degree and Ph.D. from the University of Miami, Florida.
Pat was bitten by the flying bug early and began taking lessons at age 16, earning his Private Pilot certificate shortly after his 17th birthday. Today, 11,000+ hours later, he holds a Commercial Pilot certificate for gliders, single-engine land/seaplane, and multi-engine land aircraft and is a Gold Seal Flight Instructor for gliders, single and multi-engine aircraft, with nearly 6,000 hours of dual instruction given. He is also a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and recipient of the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.
Pat joined Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) in 2015 and currently serves as a part-time AOPA Foundation Scholarship Mentor. In that capacity he is deeply involved with flight training scholarship recipients, assisting them as they progress through their flight training experience. He is also the co-developer of the Rusty Pilot seminar and presents them regularly, both as online live webinars and in-person to enthusiastic audiences.
Pat holds a Bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University with a major in Radio & Television Production and a minor in Business Administration.
Pat was bitten by the flying bug early and began taking lessons at age 16, earning his Private Pilot certificate shortly after his 17th birthday. Today, 11,000+ hours later, he holds a Commercial Pilot certificate for gliders, single-engine land/seaplane, and multi-engine land aircraft and is a Gold Seal Flight Instructor for gliders, single and multi-engine aircraft, with nearly 6,000 hours of dual instruction given. He is also a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and recipient of the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.
Pat joined Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) in 2015 and currently serves as a part-time AOPA Foundation Scholarship Mentor. In that capacity he is deeply involved with flight training scholarship recipients, assisting them as they progress through their flight training experience. He is also the co-developer of the Rusty Pilot seminar and presents them regularly, both as online live webinars and in-person to enthusiastic audiences.
Pat holds a Bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University with a major in Radio & Television Production and a minor in Business Administration.
John is an accomplished fundraiser with a passion for driving positive change. With a career dedicated to philanthropy and connecting people to the causes they most care about, he has an exceptional ability to build strong relationships and secure vital support for important causes and organizations.
John got his start in philanthropy with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Foundation where he played a pivotal role in fundraising for the LPGA Urban Youth Golf Program, the only golf program in the country teaching golf to children in the inner city. Under his guidance, the program experienced remarkable growth, expanding from 150 children to over 1,500 citywide. This accomplishment set the stage for the development of the First Tee program, a national initiative.
John has raised money across several disciplines, including healthcare, education, the arts, and aviation. He built a major giving program for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) across the Western states. Through his efforts, major giving soared from $85,000 to $1.3M annually.
John holds a Bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and Masters of Business
Administration from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
John is an accomplished fundraiser with a passion for driving positive change. With a career dedicated to philanthropy and connecting people to the causes they most care about, he has an exceptional ability to build strong relationships and secure vital support for important causes and organizations.
John got his start in philanthropy with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Foundation where he played a pivotal role in fundraising for the LPGA Urban Youth Golf Program, the only golf program in the country teaching golf to children in the inner city. Under his guidance, the program experienced remarkable growth, expanding from 150 children to over 1,500 citywide. This accomplishment set the stage for the development of the First Tee program, a national initiative.
John has raised money across several disciplines, including healthcare, education, the arts, and aviation. He built a major giving program for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) across the Western states. Through his efforts, major giving soared from $85,000 to $1.3M annually.
John holds a Bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and Masters of Business
Administration from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Steve served 11 years as a U.S. Navy F/A-18 pilot. His Navy career encompassed overseas service in Japan, stateside operational test flying, and numerous leadership roles across the entire spectrum of aviation activities including operations, training, and maintenance. He is proud to educate, mentor and support aspiring military aviators.
Steve’s Navy qualifications include F/A-18E/F NATOPS instructor (check airman), F/A-18E/F Functional Check Flight pilot, and wing-qualified Landing Signal Officer. He holds an FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate with Boeing 737-type rating and FAA single-engine land and glider ratings. Currently, Steve flies a Cirrus SR20 in San Diego.
Steve earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Steve served 11 years as a U.S. Navy F/A-18 pilot. His Navy career encompassed overseas service in Japan, stateside operational test flying, and numerous leadership roles across the entire spectrum of aviation activities including operations, training, and maintenance. He is proud to educate, mentor and support aspiring military aviators.
Steve’s Navy qualifications include F/A-18E/F NATOPS instructor (check airman), F/A-18E/F Functional Check Flight pilot, and wing-qualified Landing Signal Officer. He holds an FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate with Boeing 737-type rating and FAA single-engine land and glider ratings. Currently, Steve flies a Cirrus SR20 in San Diego.
Steve earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Craig is a seasoned attorney who graduated with a law degree from the University of San Diego, School of Law in 1990. Throughout his career, he has excelled in general litigation, successfully representing clients in class actions, personal injury, medical malpractice, construction defects, product defects, employment law, and worker’s compensation cases. With extensive trial experience in both civil and administrative settings, Craig has effectively protected corporate, municipal, and insurance clients from protracted litigations and frivolous claims in the employment arena.
Beyond his legal expertise, Craig is a retired Police Officer after serving for 20 years in the cities of San Diego and Pasadena. In addition, Craig possesses a unique passion for aviation. He has been a certificated FAA Private Pilot since 1982 and is rated to fly both single and multi-engine aircraft. Currently, Craig serves on the Board of Directors for Plus One Flyers, the world’s largest flying club, and he is actively involved within the general aviation community in San Diego.
Craig is a seasoned attorney who graduated with a law degree from the University of San Diego, School of Law in 1990. Throughout his career, he has excelled in general litigation, successfully representing clients in class actions, personal injury, medical malpractice, construction defects, product defects, employment law, and worker’s compensation cases. With extensive trial experience in both civil and administrative settings, Craig has effectively protected corporate, municipal, and insurance clients from protracted litigations and frivolous claims in the employment arena.
Beyond his legal expertise, Craig is a retired Police Officer after serving for 20 years in the cities of San Diego and Pasadena. In addition, Craig possesses a unique passion for aviation. He has been a certificated FAA Private Pilot since 1982 and is rated to fly both single and multi-engine aircraft. Currently, Craig serves on the Board of Directors for Plus One Flyers, the world’s largest flying club, and he is actively involved within the general aviation community in San Diego.
STEM Aviation Academy
2006 Palomar Airport Road
Suite 103, Carlsbad, CA 92011
