Episode 69 - Dr. James Sulton III

In this episode of the LD Aviation Podcast, we sit down with Dr. James Sulton, a trailblazer in both education and aviation outreach. Dr. Sulton shares his journey of combining these two fields to focus on empowering underrepresented youth through aviation education. As the founder of the AvEd Foundation, Dr. Sulton has spent over a decade providing scholarships and programs to at-risk students, shaping the future of aviation for minorities. Dr. Sulton reflects on his time as the principal of Oakland Aviation High School, where he developed unique programs tailored to minority students, addressing the key barriers they face in entering the field of aviation. He highlights the importance of mentorship and having role models for young students, sharing personal success stories that demonstrate the life-changing impact of his work. Beyond pilots, Dr. Sulton discusses the significance of aviation careers in scheduling, dispatching, and other operational roles, emphasizing how crucial these careers are to the safety and efficiency of the industry. He provides insights into how his outreach programs expose students to these opportunities and discusses what more can be done to break down barriers for underrepresented communities. Key Takeaways: The journey of combining education and aviation to empower minority youth. The impact of the AvEd Foundation in offering scholarships and programs to at-risk students. Key barriers minority students face in entering aviation and how to address them. The importance of mentorship and role models in aviation education. The significance of aviation careers beyond pilots, such as scheduling and dispatching. Insights into the skills and certifications needed for aviation operational roles. Strategies for improving the talent pipeline for aviation, particularly for underrepresented communities. Resources Mentioned: AvEd Foundation Oakland Aviation High School Guest Information: Dr. James Sulton Host Information: Lindsay Dyer | LinkedIn Production and marketing Massif Studio & Production | LinkedIn For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices