Vishal Vithlani grew up on the east coast of Africa, in Tanzania. He immigrated to the United States and attended Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California where he obtained Associate’s Degrees in Commercial Flight and Liberal Arts. He then obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Management from Southern Illinois University.

He spent the first ten years of his airline career with Atlantic Southeast Airlines and SkyWest Airlines, where he flew CRJs as a First Officer and the Embraer Brasilia as a captain. He now works for United Airlines at a First Officer on the Boeing 757/767 in Los Angeles.

For the past several years, he’s been involved in student outreach efforts at various levels, from Coordinator to Director, currently leading OBAP’s Aerospace Professionals in Schools Program. With a team of volunteers nationwide, they have reached out to over 40,000 kids in each of the past 2 school years.

In 2014, he took the initiative to set up an Aviation Career Pathway at a local high school in the Corona-Norco Unified School District in the Los Angeles Area. After 4 years of close collaboration with district and school officials, Corona High School officially launched their Aviation Program, with top-of-the-line simulators, an industry leading curriculum, and a highly qualified instructor teaching the program.

Vishal lives in Eastvale, California with his wife Reema and their 3 sons. He believes that every child has the ability to reach his or her dream as long as they are willing to work hard, and we as adults take the time to nurture and guide them. His goal as the Director of APIS is to have every OBAP member mentor at least one person or adopt a school that they can regularly visit and inspire the next generation.