NHCFAE Podcast

In this episode of the NHCFAE Career Series Podcast, we sit down with Javier E. Quinones, FAA System Engineer, retired Oklahoma Air National Guard First Sergeant, and longtime NHCFAE member, to explore a powerful journey rooted in service, leadership, and technical excellence. Javier shares his career path from Airway Transportation Systems Specialist (ATSS) to instructor, manager, and second-leve...

In this inspiring episode of the NHCFAE Podcast, Host Hilda Cortes sits down with author, speaker, and transformational coach Migdalia Gonzalez to explore her journey from a distinguished federal career to writing her powerful book, Dancing Into Opportunity: The Rhythm of Effective Communication. Migdalia shares:The emotional promise to her son that sparked her bookHow communication is just like d...

In this episode of the NHCFAE Career Series, President Oscar Torres sits down with longtime member, leader, and mentor Misty Peña, Assistant Manager in the FAA’s Office of Aviation Safety – Flight Standards Service, General Aviation Special Emphasis Investigations Team (SEIT).With 36 years of federal service, Misty shares her inspiring journey—from starting as a high school student aide in 1989 to...

​In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Nat Perez, whose journey embodies hard work, resilience, and the power of community. From his humble beginnings in Mexico, growing up in West Sacramento, and watching his family work the fields — to serving in the U.S. Air Force, earning his radar and tower certifications, and becoming a leader in the FAA — Nat’s story is one that resonates deeply.  Nat...

In our first episode of the NHCFAE Career Series, President Oscar Torres sits down with Karen Perez, Aerospace Engineer and Vice President of NHCFAE. From childhood flights between New York and the Dominican Republic to licensing commercial space launches for companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Rocket Lab, Karen shares her remarkable journey in aerospace engineering — one built on passion, per...

In this special legacy edition of the NHCFAE Podcast, host John Espinosa and co-host Hilda Cortes sit down with three of our past presidents — Ron Lozano, Junior Zavala, and David Dominguez — to reflect on the legacy that built our Familia. From early beginnings to national impact, their stories reveal how courage, representation, and mentorship transformed the path for generations of Hispanic lea...

How do you reinvent yourself after retirement? Ruth Hurtado shares how to thrive with purpose, resilience, and faith beyond federal service. What does thriving look like after a 30-year federal career? In this heartfelt episode, host John Espinosa speaks with Ruth Hurtado, coach, consultant, and founder of RadiantLivin.com, about how to move from transition to transformation. Together they explore...

In this inspiring episode of the NHCFAE Podcast, host John Espinosa sits down with Hilda Cortes, the Coalition’s Director of Education, to explore the heart of our mission — scholarships that change lives. Together, they share powerful stories of scholarship recipients, highlight the impact on families and communities, and break down how members and students can apply, give back, or get involved....

Welcome to the NHCFAE Podcast — where voices across aviation and space come together to inspire, inform, and connect. In our very first episode, President Oscar Torres introduces the mission and heart behind the National Hispanic Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NHCFAE). Hear how NHCFAE continues to empower professionals, advocate for inclusion, and create spaces where every story matters....