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Dr. Peggy Chabrian, President and Founder of Women in Aviation International, has announced her intention to retire in April next year.

Speaking at the WAI Connect Breakfast at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh last week, Dr. Chabrian said: “The organization is in an excellent place with record accomplishments in all areas including membership numbers, scholarship awards, and a solid financial position. It has been a pleasure to have established the WAI annual conferences 30 years ago, to create the organization 25 years ago, and to serve as its president since its inception in 1994.

"My commitment is to engage in continued fundraising and public relations for WAI through next year’s conference, March 5-7, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista Florida, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, up through April 2020 and to ensure a smooth transition once a new individual has been hired.”

Among the group’s members are astronauts, business aviation pilots, maintenance technicians, air traffic controllers, journalists, flight attendants, high school and university students, air show performers, airport managers and many others.

Marci Veronie, WAI chairman, said, “A trailblazing pioneer and an industry leader, Dr. Peggy Chabrian has steered the international growth and prominence of WAI for three decades with her signature professionalism and expertise.” She added, “On behalf of the WAI board of directors and staff, we offer a huge collective thank you for all that Peggy has accomplished for women in aviation pursuing a wide range of career pursuits and for providing the year-round resources to foster each member’s dream of finding her or his right path in this ever expanding industry.”

“For 30 years, Dr. Chabrian has been a source of inspiration to women in aviation, and a tireless advocate for educational initiatives and other resources to ensure their success and career growth in the industry,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.

“NBAA thanks her for her passionate commitment to mentoring and encouraging women to pursue career possibilities within the aviation community, and I know she will continue to inspire lives well into the future.”

NBAA Vice President, Educational Strategy and Workforce Development Jo Damato, CAM, pointed to Dr. Chabrian’s influence on her own career.

“In addition to steering the direction and accomplishments of WAI since its inception, she has touched countless lives throughout the aviation community, and has directly influenced the paths of so many of our industry’s female leaders today,” said Damato. “Dr. Chabrian created a place for ‘women who liked to talk about airplanes’, and I’ve looked to her as a role model since the day I first heard her speak.”

Throughout Dr. Chabrian’s tenure, WAI has awarded more than 948,000 scholarships totaling $12.5 million and established a $1 million endowment fund. The annual International Women in Aviation Conference attracts thousands of attendees each year, and the organization will hold its fifth international Girls in Aviation Day this October.

Dr. Chabrian is a 2,200+ hour commercial/instrument multiengine pilot and flight instructor.

BlueSky Business Aviation News |1st August 2019 | Issue #521