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What the First Latina U.S. Air Force Pilot, Olga Custodio, Teaches Us About Building a Stronger Industry

What the First Latina U.S. Air Force Pilot, Olga Custodio, Teaches Us About Building a Stronger Industry

AVIATE with Shaesta · Shaesta Waiz, Michael Wildes

June 19, 202535m 17s

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Show Notes

In this powerful conversation, host Shaesta Waiz speaks with Retired Lt. Col. Olga E. Custodio, the first Latina to fly for the United States Air Force and later, the first Latina commercial airline captain in the U.S. Olga shares the deeply personal and professional journey behind her groundbreaking aviation career—one that began after starting a family, not before.

Together, they unpack cultural norms, leadership, and the rollback of DEI initiatives in today’s aviation climate. Olga discusses how women—especially Latinas—can stand firm in spaces where they don’t yet see themselves reflected, and why now is the time to preserve and elevate our stories, even as others try to erase them.

This episode is a masterclass in persistence, purpose, and public service.


Major Themes & Concepts

✅ Equity and excellence are inseparable

✅ Male and female allies accelerate change

✅ Family first doesn’t mean career last

✅ Confidence comes from preparation, faith, and self-trust

✅ Institutional bias can be dismantled

✅ Stories must be preserved

✅ Leadership’s tone sets the pipeline

✅ Legacy lives in service


Chapter Breakdown

00:00 | Equity fuels excellence

01:11 | Olga's historic military and airline firsts

03:26 | Military childhood shaped global worldview

07:28 | Marriage and motherhood built career foundation

12:19 | Persistence despite bias and rejection

19:00 | DEI rollbacks threaten aviation’s future

24:11 | Latina pilots belong—find your allies

30:15 | Leaders must champion inclusive pipelines

34:12 | Stay visible, grounded, and accessible


Follow Olga Custodio

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