The Dames
Carol Dean
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Carol is a Boeing 777 pilot for FedEx and has over 30 years of experience in aviation. Before joining FedEx in 2016, she was an international G450/G550 captain and chief pilot, flying Gulfstreams under Part 91 and 135 for Fortune 500 companies for 20 years. As a pilot instructor on the GV Design Build Team, she helped certify the Gulfstream GV in 1997, becoming the first woman to fly the aircraft. Carol is also an FAA-designated GV pilot examiner and a JAA-certified GV type check airman. She currently serves as the chairman of the board for the Grand Dames of Aviation, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating and supporting women in aviation.
Cheryl Pitzer
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Cheryl is a FedEx pilot and has served as the MD11 Fleet Chief Pilot as well as Duty Officer. Cheryl was hired at FedEx in 1995 and has flown the B727, DC10 and the MD11. She has held instructor, check airman and FAA designee roles for both FedEx (APD) and general aviation (DPE). Cheryl is a volunteer pilot for Orbis International’s “Flying Eye Hospital.”
Christine Mau
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Currently works as a F-35 Instructor Pilot for Lockheed Martin. In 2015 Christine became the first woman to fly the F-35. She led the first combat mission planned, launched, and flown entirely by women in 2011 and flew over 500 combat hours. She served for 20 years in the USAF culminating as Deputy Commander, 33rd Operations Group, Eglin Air Force Base.
Elizabeth Dornak
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Elizabeth is Director of Aviation at DuPont with over 34 years of flight experience. She has served on the NBAA Board of Directors since 2007. She was selected to serve as the NBAA Board’s representative to the International Business Aviation Council. Dornak formerly served as the Chair of NBAA’s Board of Directors.
Christie Meyers
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Currently flying the A320 series for Spirit Airlines. Christie began her career in corporate aviation flying Sabreliners and Citations. She volunteers as a FAA Safety Team Representative, a Yankee Ladies WAI member, is on the Yankee Air Museum’s Rosie the Riveter Drill Team, and is the Detroit Coordinator with the Pilots For Kids Organization.
Theresa Claiborne
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Currently Theresa is a B787 Dreamliner captain for United Airlines. She became the first African American female pilot in the U.S. Air Force in 1982. Theresa was also the first African American female Air Commander, and instructor pilot of the KC-135. Theresa is co-founder of Sisters of the Skies.
Olga Custodio
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Olga was the first Latina to complete U.S. Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training and continued on to become the first USAF Latina instructor and check airman. She retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 24 years of service and became the first Latina airline pilot for American Airlines.
Cassandra Bosco
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A 35-year veteran of the aviation industry, as president of TailWinds Communications, Cassandra has provided communications, strategic planning, event planning and education program development services to the aviation and aerospace industry. She is a Women in Aviation International Founding Board Member, an inductee in the WAI Aviation Pioneer Hall of Fame and a recipient of the National Aeronautic Association Distinguished Stateswoman of Aviation (2021).
Lyndse Costabile
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Founder of ‘From Sacrifice to Soaring,’ a platform for flight training bringing opportunities to individuals facing adversity. She also co-founded Aviation Influence, Inc. Since their founding in July 2019, they’ve inspired and outreached to over 4,500 youth, facilitated large events and secured more than $50,000 in funding for various STEM/aviation scholarships and programming.
Crystal Kubeczka
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Crystal is the President and CEO of Paragon Aviation Group, a global network of elite independently owned FBOs and partners. She also serves as Executive Director for the Chief Pilots Roundtable and on the NBAA IOC Planning Committee and Paragon Advisory Board. Crystal’s aviation journey began as a licensed dispatcher for Part 135/91 operations, followed by positions at Air Routing International and FlightSafety International, where she led sales and marketing for Gulfstream products for over 15 years. She later joined UAS International Trip Support before her current role at Paragon. With deep expertise in aviation leadership and strategic planning, Crystal focuses on fostering strong relationships and expanding market share in the aviation community. She actively contributes to the NBAA’s International Operators Steering Committee and has served on its Scheduler and Dispatcher Committee.
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