Research Scientist & Airline Pilot
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On the GroundMy work sits at the intersection of aviation safety systems, psychology, human factors, and a healthy amount of curiosity about why smart people do wonderfully human things under pressure.
As a Research Scientist and Affiliate Associate Professor in University of Washington’s Human Centered Design & Engineering department, I study how communication, leadership, trust, emotional intelligence, and psychological resilience shape safety in the flight deck. In other words: I study the stuff happening between the checklists. |
I’m particularly interested in the invisible layers of performance, such as the social dynamics, cognitive shortcuts, emotional regulation, emotional intelligence, and team cultures that quietly determine whether highly trained people thrive, adapt, speak up, or go silent. My research explores how individuals, teams, and technology interact within complex sociotechnical systems, with a growing focus on how ethically grounded AI can enhance both safety outcomes and the well-being of the humans operating within those systems.
Check out the cool stuff we're doing at UW on our website: The Aviation Lab @ UW
Check out the cool stuff we're doing at UW on our website: The Aviation Lab @ UW
In the Sky
Currently, I fly the Boeing 787, though my aviation career has been less “carefully linear progression” and more “accidentally collecting continents.”
Aviation has been my excuse to wander the planet with purpose. I’ve flown across six continents, lived on three, and spent 20+ years bouncing between airlines to corporate aviation and back to the airlines. In Lagos, I learned to appreciate the art of adaptability in one of the world’s most dynamic aviation environments. In Kuala Lumpur, I flew a Lear 60 while falling in love with the energy and complexity of Southeast Asian operations. Somewhere along the way, I also became captain on the Gulfstream G650 and developed a deep appreciation for the humans behind the systems.
Flying has given me a front-row seat to both the brilliance and fragility of complex systems. It turns out the most fascinating part of aviation isn’t always the airplane — it’s the humans trying to operate one smoothly while crossing time zones, aggressively caffeinated, managing interpersonal dynamics, and dealing with the psychological consequences of surviving entirely on overpriced airport hummus at midnight.
Flying has given me a front-row seat to both the brilliance and fragility of complex systems. It turns out the most fascinating part of aviation isn’t always the airplane — it’s the humans trying to operate one smoothly while crossing time zones, aggressively caffeinated, managing interpersonal dynamics, and dealing with the psychological consequences of surviving entirely on overpriced airport hummus at midnight.
Off the Clock
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Outside the research lab and the flight deck, I’m a mom to two endlessly entertaining daughters, an enthusiastic lifelong learner, and someone who feels most grounded somewhere outdoors. When I’m not researching sociotechnical systems or crossing time zones for work, you can usually find me on a mountain trail with my partner or wobbling confidently on a paddle board with my rescue dog, Beacon, who takes his role as expedition supervisor very seriously.
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- Research Scientist, University of Washington
- Affiliate Associate Professor, Human Centered Design & Engineering, University of Washington
- Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society
- Board Member, Rise Up & Read
- Member, CAE Human Performance Excellence (hpX) Council
- Distinguished Scholar Award (2026), Flight Safety Foundation