Airline Career Mentoring Chat with Capt. Theresa Claiborne Retired United Airlines 787 Dreamliner Captain and Three Aspiring Aviators

All Things Aviation & Aerospace

While discussing the origin of her storied flying career, Captain Theresa Claiborne and I had an inspiring roundtable airline career mentoring talk with three very impressive aspiring aviators who are all well on their way towards flying professionally one day.
Joining us were Abby Awosanya, a commercial pilot with a multiengine rating and is a certified instrument flight instructor who graduated from the United Airlines Aviate Academy. Prior to her flight training, Abby received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. She actively volunteers for organizations like Sisters of the Skies, OBAP (the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals), and Women in Aviation International (WAI).
Oded Vazquez, who is originally from Cuba started flying only a few years ago after she discovered it was something she could do for a career and had a passion for. She has her private pilots license and is currently working on her commercial license. Her day job is working as a successful real estate agent with the Nova Realty Group, a Redfin Partner in Miami. Oded has Bachelors in International Relations from Florida International University.
Mariah Ervin is the youngest of the group and currently at student at Elizabeth City State University. She is very involved with the ECSU OBAP chapter and serves as their Director of Public Relations. Mariah has her private pilot certificate with an instrument rating and is now working on her commercial pilot certification.
Captain Theresa Claiborne has a storied aviation career that began during ROTC in college and manifested into her becoming the first Black woman United States Air Force Pilot followed by 34 years as a United Airlines pilot flying all of the Boeing aircraft in its fleet. She most recently was the captain of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner which she did her “retirement” flight in with family and friends. Captain Claiborne was also the 2024 recipient of the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Aviation Inspiration Award as part of AOPA Bob Hoover Trophy event honors and is a founding member of ‘Sisters of the Skies’ an organization dedicated to furthering careers of aspiring young aviation professionals.
All Things Aviation & Aerospace is an aviation career-oriented podcast and webcast available wherever you get your podcasts as well as YouTube, Facebook, and Linkedin. Its primary objective is to provide insight on the plethora of opportunities and possibilities in the commercial and private aviation as well as aerospace. Its executive producer, host and moderator, Vince Mickens, is a long time private pilot who flies regularly for personal and business. Navy Veteran Mickens' background includes executive roles for the last couple of decades with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and the Bob Hoover Legacy Foundation. He also had all a 28-year broadcast journalism career that included working in 7 major television and radio markets nationwide.

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