Connect. engage. inspire
Women in Aviation International is the largest organization in the world dedicated to increasing the number of women involved in all areas of aviation and aerospace.
“At WAI, we strive to encourage, empower, and educate all those whose interests, lives, and work involve aviation and aerospace without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental abilities, or point of view. We know with certainty that our shared passion for aviation transcends any differences among us.”
Our goals are to
Invest in our current and future global workforce
Build a diverse, inclusive, and sustainable aviation and aerospace industry
Inspire women and girls to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace
meet Our Team
melissa tarkett - president
Melissa has over 20 years of progressive experience in Aviation Business Management, including FAA Repair Station Operations, FBO Operations, and Team Management. Melissa is Bilingual (English/Spanish) and has worked with various clients all over the US, as well as those based in Southern California and Mexico. Her dynamic experience has played an instrumental role in reviving the San Diego Chapter of WAI. As President, it is her mission to provide many outreach and networking opportunities for the chapter. She is passionate about STEM and education. While volunteering her time to WAI San Diego, Melissa recently completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Management at San Diego State University. She lives in Bonita with her husband and young daughter.
jacquelynn houston - vice president
Emily is a former U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D Weapons Systems Officer with 12 years of service. Now based in San Diego, she’s pursuing her Private Pilot License and recently completed her first solo flight in a Cessna 172.
Transitioning from military to civilian aviation, Emily is enjoying the personal challenge and joy of flying for herself. She hopes to earn her Commercial Pilot License and eventually instruct. Emily also serves as Treasurer for Women in Aviation San Diego.
Kimberly recently became PPL certified through Sling’s Flight Academy in San Diego while maintaining her job as a flight coordinator.
Her next step is Instrument rating and CFI, both on her path to to becoming a Flight Path intern with UPS. Her long-term dream is flying for UPS.
Jacquelynn will never forget the day her mom woke her up from a nap to tell her that she just had an interview for a job at Delta. Jacquelynn had just returned from a weekend-long student council event where she vividly remembers being so envious while one of the speakers was going on about her world travels. She remembers the longing she felt to travel, but being a sixteen year old, it felt like a very far away fantasy. When her mom got the job, Jacquelynn felt like the timing was all too perfect, and she was over the moon excited to get flight benefits! She went on day trips whenever she got the opportunity and she quickly realized that it didn’t really matter where she was going, she just enjoyed the way she felt when she was on an airplane.
After graduating from San Diego State during COVID and realizing the only thing she knew fueled her heart was traveling, Jacquelynn decided to take a big leap and start flight school. Looking back on it, she truly had no clue what she was getting herself into. Lucky for Jacquelynn, she quickly fell in love with the world of aviation. The people, opportunities, and experiences it has brought to her in the past three years has been nothing short of magical. She truly could not imagine what her life would be like without it.
Jacquelynn recently accepted her first airline job and she also serves as VP of the San Diego Women in Aviation chapter. These have been two of her proudest accomplishments in life. She recently read a journal prompt that asked “How would you spend your days if money wasn’t a factor?” and Jacquelynn had the epiphany that she was doing something right when she knew she would still spend her days the same.
AUBRE Julian - Secretary
Tee Frisby - SCholarship
Aubre is a dedicated flight instructor based out of Montgomery Airport, where she shares her passion for aviation with aspiring pilots every day. What began as a hobby quickly transformed into a full-time pursuit—especially during the pandemic, when she made the leap and moved to San Diego to follow her dream of flying professionally.
Before taking to the skies, Aubre worked in office management while earning her MBA in Management. Now, she combines her leadership background with her love of aviation to inspire the next generation, particularly through her involvement with Women in Aviation. She is committed to supporting, promoting, and encouraging more women to pursue careers in the field.
Aubre recently completed her Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certification and is currently applying to regional airlines as she takes the next exciting step in her aviation journey.
Emily Favorite - Treasurer
Kimberly romero - Membership
Tee is a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines as well as a CMEL and CMES general aviation pilot. She is currently working on her multi-engine rating. She is a newly certificated Commercial pilot as well as a new Commercial Seaplane pilot. She hopes to work for SkyWest within the next couple of years and then go on to be hired back at Delta Air Lines in the flight deck.
Alyssa Watkins - Social media
Alyssa is on track to get her PPL this summer. She’s working on getting her license because she wants to learn a new life skill, challenge her growth as a person and develop a new hobby with a shared community of aviators who are passionate about travel and flying!
kristin lackey - fundraising
Sharon moved to San Diego in June 2023 to transition from a successful career in international development to full-time aviation. She recently passed the 500 hour mark and is enjoying her new role in dispatch at CrownAir Aviation at Montgomery Gibbs. She is an aspiring professional pilot. She trains out KMYF with Plus One Flyers and is building time and working towards her ATP rating.
She is completing her commercial rating at the moment and plans to do an accelerated CFI course in late May. She also wants to join the Civil Air Patrol!
Kristin is the Brand Manager at Sonoma Aviation, where her passion for aviation and expertise in branding converge to create dynamic strategies and initiatives. Kristin has her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Management, complemented by a Professional Certificate in Branding from the prestigious Kellogg School of Management.
Kristin’s love for aviation began at a young age, a passion ignited by her first flight experience at an EAA Young Eagles event in her hometown in Illinois, where her grandfather proudly served as the local chapter president. This early exposure to the world of aviation left a lasting impression, steering her professional path toward the aviation industry. In her spare time, Kristin enjoys spending time with her three daughters at the beach or hiking in the mountains. She loves CrossFit, taking road trips and volunteering at her children’s school.
Sharon De OlivEIRA-GIRLS IN AVIATION DAY
ANNIKA KNOTT-OUTREACH
Annika is currently working as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI/CFII) out of MYF at Plus One Flyers and Learn to Fly San Diego. She graduated in 2024 from Purdue with a double major in Professional Flight & Aviation Management! Her ultimate goal is to fly internationally as a captain for a major airline.