As we celebrate Black History Month, we’re excited to recognize some of the unique stories of a few members of our SkyWest team.
Chuck N. – DTW CRJ First Officer
Chuck was born in Queens, New York, after his parents immigrated from Nigeria to give him better opportunities.
Growing up, Chuck spent time on flight simulators, fueling his passion for aviation. He still vividly remembers the awe he felt during his first airport experience and seeing a 747 aircraft in person. He later joined the Army as an aircraft mechanic and spent two years deployed in Iraq.
After serving his country, Chuck was fortunate to have mentors who encouraged him and helped him along the path to becoming an airline pilot. This included encouragement to join the SkyWest Pilot Pathway Program as he transitioned from Army aviation to airline flying.
“SkyWest does an incredible job at facilitating a successful environment for learning,” Chuck said. “Training was spot on, and it prepared me well to be on the line.”
Chuck said that he is thankful for the opportunities he’s had to work hard, grow in his career, and continue pursuing his aviation goals at SkyWest.
“The work you put in is a direct result of what you’re able to achieve in this life,” Chuck said. “I am proud of how far I have come in my aviation journey, and now I’m looking forward to upgrading to Captain and becoming a PIC on the CRJ.”
Tondalah S. – DFW InFlight Admin Assistant
For Tondalah, starting her aviation career represented a new beginning.
“I was rebuilding and moving forward with my life after my son graduated high school, and I was recovering from some health challenges that shifted my perspective,” Tondalah recalled. “I wanted to focus on building a truly fulfilling career.”
Tondalah said that her role as a SkyWest flight attendant represented freedom. After years in desk-based work, she appreciated the fast-paced environment of the industry, the opportunity to be part of a large team, and connecting with people from many different cultures around the world.
Tondalah says she was drawn to SkyWest for its strong reputation, stability, and the close-knit and supportive atmosphere.
“I appreciate the strong leadership here at SkyWest, and how, even as the largest regional airline, it still feels like a family,” Tondalah said. “Our contributions here are recognized and valued.”
Tondalah believes that it is important to reflect on the examples of strength and resilience from those that came before us.
“My grandfather worked for the railroad and never missed a day of work, my mother was a perfect model of integrity and constantly showed up for those around her,” Tondalah recalled. “Their examples really helped shape how I approach my job in aviation and demonstrated to me that consistency, trust, and reliability matter.”
Keith J. – DEN ERJ First Officer
Keith had already graduated with a degree in film and television production when he was bit by the aviation bug after taking a discovery flight. With support and encouragement from his parents, he decided to make a career switch and become a pilot.
“My parents uprooted their lives and left behind their families in Arkansas to move to Denver for a bigger city with more opportunities,” Keith said. “My parents helped me finance my schooling so I could become the first person in my family to graduate from college. When I told them I wanted to pursue aviation, they were incredibly supportive about my decision.”
Keith loves a challenge and was drawn to SkyWest because he was impressed by our reputation for having some of the highest training standards in the industry.
“I knew I wanted to be part of SkyWest because of our stellar training record, I talked to our airline partners and they all agreed that SkyWest was the very best,” Keith said. “I was ready to dive in and fully immerse myself in aviation so I joined the SkyWest Pilot Pathway Program, which gave me valuable insight on how the industry operates.”
Keith is grateful he took the leap into aviation and is proud to be building his career at SkyWest, where he continues to grow, and push himself to become better each day alongside his incredible colleagues.