Jennifer Henderson in the flight deck of a 737-8.

Boeing photo

Jennifer Henderson knew from a very young age that she wanted to be a pilot. “My mom took me flying when I was two weeks old,” she explained. “And when I was in middle school I decided that my career path would be aerospace engineering and then later to become a military pilot. And that’s exactly what I did.”

Today, Henderson is the chief pilot for the 737 at Boeing and hopes that her career inspires more women to join a profession she has found so rewarding.

“Women have made very significant contributions across the aviation industry and across the world and I think it’s very appropriate to stop and recognize that,” she said. “Each individual brings a unique perspective. It’s just really important. It makes a team even more powerful when they have a diverse workgroup.”

By Josh Green