Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics Celebrates Record Attendance, Future of Flight at Ninth Annual Women in Aviation and Aerospace Day

OKLAHOMA CITY – A sold-out crowd of more than 1,300 aviation enthusiasts, professionals and students converged on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, for the ninth annual Oklahoma Women in Aviation and Aerospace Day (OKWIAAD), a landmark event celebrating a century of flight in the state.

Hosted by aviation services provider AAR Corporation in partnership with JE Dunn Construction, and the Oklahoma City Airport Trust, the event was facilitated by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) and the Oklahoma Aerospace Foundation.

The gathering, held in AAR’s new 70,000 square-foot Hangar 4 on the OKC Will Rogers International Airport campus, provided valuable networking opportunities for students and professionals. Attendees also got a first-hand look at AAR’s new maintenance facility expected to become operational in early 2026.

Grayson Ardies, ODAA executive director, emphasized the need to promote careers in aviation and aerospace among Oklahoma women to close the workforce gap and continue industry growth in the state.

“Oklahoma’s $44 billion aerospace sector is booming, but our continued growth trends depend on a strong talent pipeline,” said Ardies. “We have high-demand, high-wage jobs waiting to be filled right now. Events like these are crucial for connecting thousands of talented women with these critical career pathways, directly addressing the workforce needs that will keep our state’s economy on an upward trajectory and make this our number one economic driver.”

An overarching theme for OKWIAAD included the need for strategic partnerships to drive long-term success within Oklahoma’s second largest industry. During their remarks, both Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell and Senator Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, emphasized the importance of cultivating opportunities for the aviation industry’s future workers, focusing on the value from the growing representation of women in the aerospace industry.

Additionally, keynote speaker and international aviation leader Amelia Rose Earhart stressed not only the importance of partnerships but in taking the lead with her message focusing on “being a tailwind.” Earhart, who notably recreated the flight of her namesake, Amelia Mary Earhart, around the world, pushed the need for people to advance and progress toward reaching their goals despite inevitable turbulence.

The event featured women from all over the aerospace industry including celebrity emcee Dawn MK Zoldi (Colonel, USAF, retired), CEO and founder of P3 Tech Consulting. In partnership with Rose State College, Zoldi also spoke to future aviation professionals as part of a student experience that hosted more than 500 high schoolers from around Oklahoma. Local microjet pilot Justin Lewis also addressed students as part of the experience. Both highlighted the importance of being open to new opportunities and embracing change.

In line with the event’s theme “Celebrating the Grit and Grace of the Golden Age of Aviation,” the day included the announcement of ODAA’s 2025 Woman of the Year — Amelia Earhart. Earhart was a pioneering American aviator, author, and women's rights advocate who broke numerous flight records—including being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean—before disappearing in 1937 during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Additionally, Earhart served as the first president of the Ninety-Nines, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women pilots. Current Ninety-Nines president Robin Hadfield accepted the award on behalf of Earhart and the international organization. A reception was also held in partnership with the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association to welcome attendees to the Ninety-Nines museum prior to the event.

The OKWIAAD was originally created, in part, to honor the legacy of Chickasaw aviator Eula “Pearl” Carter Scott, who was the youngest pilot in the nation in 1929. In observation of Scott’s trailblazing spirit, the ODAA recognized two women for their contributions to Oklahoma aviation. The 2025 Pearl of the Year award was presented to Kristy Slater, Wiley Post Airport general aviation manager and Alexis Higgins, Tulsa International Airport CEO who were each instrumental in the creation and growth of OKWIAAD.

Finally, the event concluded with awards presented to three Oklahoma women who have made important contributions to the state’s aerospace industry.

• Pearl Carter Scott Oklahoma General Aviation Distinguished Service Award
  Brandi Rector, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and accomplished helicopter pilot, co-founded Semper Fly Helicopters, a Norman-based Part 141 flight school and Authorized Bell Training Center known for safety and quality.
• Dr. Shannon Lucid Aerospace Industry Service Award
  Leshia Pearson, Aerospace Commerce Economic Services (ACES) director, has helped to lead Oklahoma’s second-largest industry grow to make a $4 billion economic impact and employee more than 120,000 Oklahomans.
• Geraldyn M. Cobb Oklahoma Military Aviation Distinguished Service Award
  Izzy Kearney, director of Operations for an Air Force Reserve Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and pilot, also serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the 99s Museum of Women Pilots.

The event was a collaborative effort with partners across the state including AAR Corporation, Acorn Capital Management, American Airlines, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Ardmore Development Authority, ASAP Energy Aviation Fuels, Atlantic Aviation, Oklahoma CareerTech, The Chickasaw Nation, Critical Components Aerospace, Consolidated Turbine Specialists, LLC/Kratos, Delta Airport Consultants, Inc., DroneSports, Garver, HNTB, OKC Innovation District, JE Dunn Construction, Jones PR, Knowmadics, Kratos Defense Oklahoma City, KSA, Lochner, Lufthansa Technik, M1 Composites Technology Inc., Mint Turbines LLC, NORDAM, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Oklahoma Aerospace Foundation, Oklahoma Airport Operators Association, Oklahoma City Airport Trust, Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics, Oklahoma ACES, Oklahoma Defense Industry Association, Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, Olsson, Omada International-OKC Division, Parkhill, RealClean Aircraft Detailing, Rose State College, Semper Fly Helicopters, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Spirit Aerosystems, Sundance Airport, Tinker Federal Credit Union, Tulsa International Airport, University of Oklahoma OADII, and University of Oklahoma Gene Rainbolt Graduate School of Business.

For more information on Oklahoma’s aerospace industry as well as future events, visit Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics website at www.oklahoma.gov/aerospace.