Airline Pilot & Research Scientist
In the Sky
Currently, I'm flying the Boeing 787, but my journey has taken a bit of a global-trotting streak. From Captain in a Gulfstream 650 to the long-haul rhythm of widebody operations, I’ve piloted jet aircraft across six continents and called three of them home.
One chapter took me to Lagos, Nigeria, where I flew in the dynamic skies of West Africa. Another brought me to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where I operated a Lear 60 and soaked up the vibrant Southeast Asian aviation scene. From business aviation to commercial airlines, each stop has added a new dimension to how I see flying—not just as a technical craft, but as a deeply human one.
Whether it’s navigating international airspace or collaborating in cross-cultural crew rooms, I love working at the intersection of precision and people. Flying has given me a front-row seat to the world—not just from 36,000 feet, but from within its safety systems and its human stories. It’s this dual view, technical and deeply personal, that fuels my passion for human-centered research.
Whether it’s navigating international airspace or collaborating in cross-cultural crew rooms, I love working at the intersection of precision and people. Flying has given me a front-row seat to the world—not just from 36,000 feet, but from within its safety systems and its human stories. It’s this dual view, technical and deeply personal, that fuels my passion for human-centered research.
On the Ground
When I’m not in the flight deck, I’m deep in research about the flight deck. But not just checklists and procedures—I’m fascinated by the people in the system. My research dives into how interpersonal skills like communication, trust, leadership, and team dynamics can supercharge the already strong safety systems in aviation. I see the flight deck as more than a workspace—it’s a complex sociotechnical system, and I study how social and behavioral science can make it safer, smarter, and more resilient. I research the human side of aviation so that the technical side can perform even better.
Empirical Aero, LLCIn addition to my responsibilities as a pilot, I have previously served as a Safety Officer, where I was charged with maintaining a robust Safety Management System (SMS) within the flight department. My doctoral research uncovered significant opportunities for incorporating non-technical training within the Safety Promotion pillar of SMS as a process to enhance safety culture, an area in which I actively engage through public speaking opportunities. My passion for safety culture led to the co-founding of a unique consultancy firm.
Empirical Aero has allowed me to blend my expertise in aviation safety systems with a keen interest in behavioral science, social psychology, and human performance, offering a comprehensive approach to enhancing safety and human performance within the aviation industry, specifically for pilots and more broadly for any flight department with an SMS. |
InVolo, IncAfter completing my doctoral research on how flight deck teams interact—and how social and behavioral science shape the effectiveness of safety systems (which, spoiler alert, don’t always work as seamlessly as we expect)—I knew I didn’t want the findings to sit on a shelf. I wanted to build something practical, something useful. A tool that could help any team strengthen their interpersonal skills and, in doing so, boost human performance.
That drive led to a new collaboration and the launch of InVolo, a human-centered technology company based in the U.S. and Australia. Our team is building AI systems designed to enhance team dynamics and strengthen the resilience of safety-critical systems, with a focus on aviation. Read more about our current focus - CRMSON—a cutting-edge, AI-powered platform that combines real-time guidance, human factors research, and evidence-based insights to optimize communication, decision-making, and resilience in aviation teams. |
- Founder, Empirical Aero, LLC
- Research Scientist, University of Washington
- Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society
- Honorary Fellow, University of Melbourne
- Member, CAE Human Performance Excellence (hpX) Council