NHCFAE Podcast

Welcome to another episode of the  NHCFAE Career Series Podcast! In this inspiring bilingual episode,  Karen Perez  sits down with  Olga Isabel Pérez , an accomplished Air Traffic Controller, journalist, STEM advocate, and aviation innovator from the Dominican Republic. Olga shares her remarkable journey from walking into an airport looking for her first job to becoming an air traffic controller,...

In this inspiring episode of the NHCFAE Career Series Podcast, National Vice President and host Karen Perez sits down with  Claudia Zapata-Cardone , Airbus A320 Captain at United Airlines, Line Check Pilot, and President of Latino Professionals in Aerospace (LPA). Claudia shares her incredible journey—from childhood dinners near Newark Airport watching airplanes take off and land, to overcoming ob...

What does it take to break barriers, challenge expectations, and soar to new heights? In this inspiring episode of the NHCFAE Career Series Podcast, National Vice President Karen Perez sits down with aviation pioneer, Air Force veteran, author, entrepreneur, and advocate  Graciela Tiscareño-Sato , also known as  Captain Mama . Together, they explore her remarkable journey from being the daughter o...

From Puerto Rico to Delta Air Lines Headquarters, Zaury Trinidad’s journey is a powerful story of courage, resilience, mentorship, and taking control of your own destiny.   In this episode of the NHCFAE Career Series Podcast , National Vice President Karen Perez sits down with Zaury Trinidad , a military veteran and aviation professional with nearly 30 years of experience in the aviation industry....

What does it take to keep America’s aviation system running safely every single day? In this episode of the NHCFAE Podcast, host John Espinosa sits down with Carlos Aguirre, PASS National Secretary-Treasurer, to discuss the critical role PASS members play in maintaining aviation safety across the National Airspace System (NAS). From radar systems and aviation inspections to workforce development a...

Welcome back to the  NHCFAE Podcast  — where we highlight leaders, trailblazers, and innovators shaping the future of aviation and transportation. In this special  Sponsorship Series episode , host Karen Perez sits down with Sharmaine Bucknor, Chief Marketing Officer at Transportation Federal Credit Union, to discuss the power of  financial empowerment, education, and generational wealth  within t...

In this episode of the  National Hispanic Coalition for Aviation Excellence (NHCFAE) Career Series Podcast , we sit down with  Ariel Ortega , a Certified Professional Controller with the FAA and former United States Marine Corps Air Traffic Control Specialist. Ariel shares her inspiring journey—from joining the military at just 17 years old to building a successful career in air traffic control. S...

Ever wondered who keeps the aviation system running behind the scenes ? In this episode of the National Hispanic Coalition for Aviation Excellence (NHCFAE) Career Series Podcast , host Freidy Lazala sits down with Elsy Hernández , a Resident Engineer with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to explore a critical—but often overlooked—career in aviation. Elsy shares how she helps coordinate m...

In this episode of the National Hispanic Coalition for Aviation Excellence (NHCFAE) Career Series Podcast, host Freidy Lazala sits down with aviation leader Jean Carlo Droz Brenes to explore his inspiring journey through aviation. With over 17 years of experience, Jean shares how his passion for aviation began at just 15 years old in Puerto Rico and evolved into a career spanning pilot training, a...

In this episode of the NHCFAE Career Series Podcast, we explore the global side of aviation with special guest Josue Gonzalez from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Josue shares his journey from the FAA to ICAO, giving an inside look at how global aviation operates across 193 member states. From international standards to career pathways, this conversation breaks down how aviat...

In this powerful episode of the NHCFAE Podcast, we sit down with Meagan Hobson, CEO and Founder of Women Rock Wings, a global platform dedicated to elevating women across the aviation industry. From her journey as a military maintainer and chaplain to becoming a pilot and visionary leader, Meagan shares how representation, storytelling, and community are transforming aviation for the next generati...

In this powerful Legacy Edition of the NHCFAE Podcast, we sit down with two trailblazing leaders who helped shape the future of Hispanic representation in aviation and leadership. Former presidents Myrna Rivera and Magda Batista-Carver share their experiences leading the coalition, the challenges they faced as women in aviation, and the leadership lessons they wish they had known earlier in their...

In this episode of the NHCFAE Career Series Podcast, host Karen Perez sits down with Susie Diaz, a Drafting Coordinator with FAA Technical Operations, to discuss the critical behind-the-scenes work that helps keep the National Airspace System safe and operational. Susie shares her incredible 26-year journey with the FAA, starting as a summer student and growing into a key role coordinating enginee...

In this inspiring episode of the NHCFAE Career Series Podcast, host Karen Perez, National Vice President of the National Hispanic Coalition for Aviation Excellence (NHCFAE), sits down with Maria “Lupe” Valadez, a retired FAA engineer with 45 years of service. Lupe shares her powerful journey as the first Hispanic female engineer in the FAA Southwest Region, overcoming barriers in a male-dominated...

In this powerful episode of the NHCFAE Career Series Podcast, host Karen Perez sits down with Magda Batista Carver, NAS Senior Systems Engineer and former National President of the National Hispanic Coalition. From humble beginnings in North Philadelphia to becoming a respected engineering leader at the FAA, Magda shares a story of resilience, discipline, and unapologetic authenticity. She opens u...

From watching aircraft as a child in New Orleans to serving in the military and building a federal career, David Williams’ journey is a powerful story of perseverance, belief, and continuous growth. In this Career Series episode, Humberto Ortega sits down with David Williams, Logistics Management Specialist at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center and proud NHCFAE leader. David shares how his earl...

In this episode of the National Hispanic Coalition for Aviation Excellence (NHCFAE) Career Series Podcast, host Humberto Ortega sits down with Gerald Acevedo, Acting Honolulu Group Manager, to discuss leadership, operational excellence, and stewardship of the National Airspace System. Gerald shares his journey from serving in the U.S. Army to leading teams responsible for maintaining radar, commun...

In this powerful episode of the NHCFAE Career Series Podcast, host Humberto Ortega sits down with FAA Operations Manager and Academy Instructor Michael Dobbins to discuss leadership, resilience, and building confidence in aviation. Michael shares his journey from Detroit to becoming a leader in air traffic control, opening up about failure, mentorship, work-life balance, and the importance of repr...

In this special episode of the NHCFAE Podcast, host Oscar Torres sits down with Ejide D. Fashina, President of the National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NBCFAE), to discuss leadership, resilience, and the future of employee advocacy in aviation. Ejide shares her journey as an air traffic controller, her rise in leadership, and how NBCFAE has empowered professionals for nearly 50...

In this episode, host Misty Peña sits down with Misael “G” Goicuria, a key member of the aviation maintenance operations systems team, to explore the critical technology and coordination that keeps America’s airspace safe. Misael shares how technicians use real-time digital tools to log maintenance, coordinate with air traffic control, and ensure safe and efficient operations nationwide. From rada...

In this episode of the NHCFAE Career Series Podcast, host Misty Peña sits down with Josue Gonzalez, ICAO Regional Officer of Air Traffic Management and Search and Rescue, based in Mexico City. Josue shares his incredible aviation journey—from serving as a U.S. Navy jet mechanic, to becoming an Air Traffic Controller, to leading global aviation safety initiatives with the International Civil Aviati...

In this episode of the NHCFAE Career Series, host Misty Peña sits down with William Vallejos, a senior Technical Operations professional, to highlight the critical work that keeps our National Airspace System safe 24/7.William shares his inspiring journey—from growing up on a farm, to serving as an electronics technician on Apache helicopters in the U.S. Army, to becoming a principal Environmental...

In this episode of the National Hispanic Coalition for Aviation & Aerospace Employees (NHCFAE) Podcast, host Hilda Cortes, Director of Education, sits down with Misty Peña, Chair of the NHCFAE Foundation, to spotlight one of the most impactful initiatives within the organization — the Familia Scholarship Program. Misty shares the origins of the NHCFAE Foundation, established in 2018 as a 501(c...

In this episode of the NHCFAE Career Series Podcast, host Karen Perez, Vice President of NHCFAE, sits down with Freidy Lazala, an Drug and Alcohol Compliance & Enforcement Inspector, to discuss one of the most critical yet lesser-known areas of aviation safety: drug and alcohol enforcement. Freidy shares what it means to protect the flying public by ensuring safety-sensitive aviation professio...

In this episode of the NHCFAE Career Series, host Karen Perez sits down with Patricia Navarro, an FAA radar technician, to explore the critical role radar technology plays in aviation safety and efficiency. Patricia shares her inspiring journey from the military to the FAA, explains how radar systems like ASDE-X, STARS, ASR-9, and NEXRAD support air traffic operations, and highlights how evolving...