OBAP board member, Pamela Williams chosen to serve on Federal Aviation Administration advisory board

Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao today announced the appointment of Pamela Williams to the board of the newly-formed Women in Aviation Advisory Board (WIAAB).

The WIAAB, comprised of 30 board members, was established on October 3, 2019 under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, to develop strategies and recommendations that would encourage women and girls to enter the field of aviation. The WIAAB will assess education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment of women in the aviation industry.

“It is such a high honor to be selected from such a qualified pool of candidates to serve in this capacity,” said Williams. The native Memphian has held several positions in Human Resources during her 32-year tenure at FedEx, and currently serves as the Human Resources Director on the Board of Directors for the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals  (OBAP).

“Aviation is a multifaceted profession that offers great career opportunities in very  diverse fields, but women, particularly women of color may feel they lack the training and access required to take advantage of these opportunities. As a part of the WIAAB, I plan to focus on expanding access and awareness of opportunities in aviation to help more women of color gain entry,” Williams said.

Members will be appointed to the WIAAB for the duration of its existence, which is anticipated to be a minimum of 2 years, and will meet up to two times per year to carry out its duties.

“This is a significant moment in the history of our profession and signals a long-awaited focus on the value of inclusion in our industry,” said Vanessa Blacknall-Jamison, Board of Directors Chair for OBAP. “We couldn’t be more proud of Pamela, and all of the women appointed to the Board! I’m looking forward to their progress benefiting women who will come into this profession in the future.”