Transportation Research Board

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Session Presenter

Primary presenter photo

Kelly Jost Service Group Manager - Great Lakes Aviation C&S Engineers, Inc.

Kelly Jost is a professional engineer with a degree in civil engineering from Michigan Tech University. She has 26 years of experience, including 23 years in aviation. She started out her career working for the Michigan Department of Transportation, first in the Highway Department and then moved to the Office of Aeronautics. She transitioned to the private sector when she started working for C&S Companies on aviation planning, design and construction projects in 2006. She has worked in many roles at C&S including project manager, engineer of record, client manager, designer, cost estimator, construction inspector/administrator, business development manager and grants administrator. She learned to fly in a Cessna 152 at a small general aviation airport and received her private pilot certificate in 2006. Kelly lives and works in the Detroit, MI area, and her company C&S is based in Syracuse, NY. C&S has a national aviation group with offices all over the country.

Kelly was an appointed member of the FAA Women in Aviation Advisory Board. The board presented their report to the FAA and Congress in March of 2022 after nearly 2 years of work. The report has 55 recommendations on how to attract and retain more women into aviation and is available online on the FAA’s website. She is heavily involved in outreach in many forms, including through Girls in Aviation Day, Aviation Career Education Camps, and as a speaker in classrooms and at different educational events.

Co-presenter photo

Abstract
Workforce development in aviation depends not only on organizational policies and training, but also personal connection and supportive professional environments. Earlier in my career, I experienced challenges with balancing motherhood and an engineering career that nearly led me to leave the industry. At this moment of self-doubt and exhaustion, two mentors stepped in to help me navigate this particular season. I ended up working part time for a period in my career and got back on track with coaching and regular guidance. I was able to advance my career and am now leading a group of over 25 people in 3 different offices, working on airport infrastructure projects across the country. That experience highlighted the huge impact that mentorship and a sense of belonging can have on individual retention and success—an insight echoed throughout current research on aviation workforce needs.

As a member of the Women in Aviation Advisory Board (WIAAB) from 2020-2022, I helped research and write recommendations designed to recruit, retain, and advance more women across all sectors of the aviation workforce. These 55 recommendations address five major areas: Culture, Recruitment, Retention, Advancement, and Data. The report emphasizes that workplace culture remains the greatest barrier to women's participation and long-term engagement in aviation, noting that many women report feeling that they don’t belong within aviation environments.

Ideas will be given for industry wide cultural change, including leadership accountability, inclusive organizational practices, and expanded mentorship structures. Recruitment recommendations include outreach, education, and awareness programs that encourage young women to explore aviation pathways. Retention priorities focus on mentorship, effective work life balance strategies, and supportive policies that reduce the likelihood of women exiting the profession—an issue underscored by findings that a significant portion of women have considered leaving aviation due to workplace culture and family related pressures. Advancement strategies emphasize structured professional development and sponsorship, ensuring women have equitable access to leadership roles. Finally, improved data collection and analysis are essential to monitor progress and support continuous improvement. Women in aviation roles is not the only challenge for workforce development, but it cannot be ignored in the conversation.

My own story illustrates how transformative mentorship and cultural support can be. It led to my desire to spend more time talking to youth about aviation careers and organizing events to reach more students. This session will be a mix of personal and relatable content with actionable items for attendees to take home.