KIRSTEN DEVONO: WOMEN SHAPING AVIATION

From childhood visits to the airport to a 26-year career in aviation, Polyxeni Zoumpoulakis has built a path defined by passion, resilience, and leadership. Now Manager of Customer Service at MHIRJ, she reflects on the journey that shaped her career, the importance of confidence and teamwork, and how women in aviation are helping shape the industry’s future.

MHIRJ: What inspired you to pursue a career in aviation?

Polyxeni: I began my career in aviation 26 years ago but my love for the industry started long before that. As a young girl, I was fascinated by airplanes. My dad used to take me to the airport every week for hot chocolate and to watch the planes take off and land. Those moments sparked a lifelong passion for this incredible industry.

MHIRJ: Can you share an experience or achievement at MHIRJ that demonstrates how women are making a difference in aviation?

Polyxeni: Fifteen years ago,I joined the company as a Customer Account Manager, and today I am proud to serve as Manager of Customer Service at MHIRJ. The path to advancement was not always easy as a woman in aviation, but the challenges taught me to believe in myself, work hard, and consistently go beyond expectations.

I am grateful to the people who believed in my leadership, loyalty, strength, and customer service experience. Over the years, I built and strengthened our customer service team by creating processes, accountability, and a culture rooted in respect, teamwork, and exceptional service.

MHIRJ: In what ways would you hope to inspire future generations of women at MHIRJ and beyond?

Polyxeni: I hope to inspire future generations of women by demonstrating that hard work, passion, resilience, and most importantly self‑confidence truly make a difference. I aim to lead with integrity, vision, and respect so others feel empowered to pursue their ambitions without hesitation. Teamwork is also at the heart of what I believe. When we support one another, we all rise. My goal is to help create an environment where women feel valued, encouraged, and fully capable of achieving anything they set their minds to.

Leadership to me is defined by more than just a title. It is character, consistency, and the way we treat others. By modeling strong work ethic, compassion, and accountability, I hope to set an example that women can lead with both strength and empathy.

I also strive to be visible and approachable, someone women can come to for guidance, support, and mentorship. Sharing knowledge, opening doors, and encourage each other, we create opportunities that extend far beyond our individual roles.

Most importantly, I want women to understand that their voices matter and that they have a seat at the table. Their ideas, skills, and perspectives bring immense value to aviation. By fostering confidence, creating inclusive spaces, and celebrating achievements, I hope to encourage future generations to pursue leadership with pride, determination, and a belief in their limitless potential.

MHIRJ: What advice would you give to women considering a career in the aviation industry?

Polyxeni: My advice is simple: believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams. Aviation is a dynamic and diverse industry full of opportunity, and women play a vital role in shaping its future. Do your best, go beyond expectations, and don’t allow obstacles to define your limits. With dedication, passion, and perseverance, anything is possible.

Progress in aviation has always been powered by those willing to challenge limits and expand what’s possible. This Black History Month, we’re recognizing four pioneers whose courage, skill, and perseverance helped break boundaries in the industry.

Throughout aviation history, individuals have stepped forward not only to achieve personal milestones, but to open doors for others, including these four remarkable figures whose impact remains.

William J. Powell

An engineer, entrepreneur, and outspoken advocate for inclusion, William J. Powell worked tirelessly to create opportunities for black Americans in aviation at a time when access was heavily restricted.

This led to him founding the Bessie Coleman Aero Club in 1929, named in tribute to the pioneering pilot who had died in an airplane accident in 1926. It provided flight training and encouragement to aspiring black pilots and mechanics.

Powell also authored Black Wings, a book dedicated to promoting aviation within the black community and challenging systemic exclusion. Through education, advocacy, and action, he helped inspire a generation to see aviation not as an impossibility, but as a future absolutely within reach.

Mildred Hemmons Carter

One of the first women to earn a pilot’s license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program and the first Black female pilot in Alabama, Mildred Hemmons Carter’s determination carried her forward despite barriers that limited both women and people of colour in aviation.

Aviation also shaped her personal story. At Tuskegee, she met Herbert Carter, who would go on to serve as a Tuskegee Airman. While training, the two would fly separate aircraft and signal to one another in the sky, a shared passion that marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership.

Married in 1942 at the Tuskegee Army Airfield chapel, the Carters built a life grounded in love, service, and flight, becoming known as the Tuskegee Airmen Organization’s “First Family.” Mildred’s legacy lives on not only in her achievements, but in the inspiration she continues to provide.

Marlon Green

Marlon Green’s legacy is defined by his perseverance. A highly qualified pilot and former U.S. Air Force officer, Green was repeatedly denied employment by commercial airlines despite his credentials. Refusing to accept discriminatory hiring practices, he decided to challenge the system.

His landmark case reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 1963, resulting in a decision that helped dismantle racial barriers in commercial aviation hiring. Green would go on to become a captain at Continental Airlines, but his broader impact extended far beyond his own career.

His courage created meaningful change, helping pave the way for greater inclusion across the airline industry.

Charles B. Hall

One of the early members of the Tuskegee Airmen, Charles B. Hall was a trailblazer in military aviation. During World War II, he became the first African American pilot to achieve an air combat victory, marking a historic milestone at a pivotal moment in the global conflict.

Hall’s success demonstrated both the skill and readiness of black aviators at a time when prejudice questioned their capabilities. His achievements not only strengthened the reputation of the Tuskegee Airmen, but also contributed to expanding opportunity within the U.S. military for generations that followed.

These are just some of the incredible individuals who challenged the barriers they faced, and who helped shape aviation into the industry it is today.
 

Just four months after Matthew Lopez began working at MHIRJ, he received life-altering news in the form of a medical diagnosis. Lopez, a Non-Destructive Technician (NDT), had been hired at MHIRJ in June 2024. As a retired U.S. military veteran, Lopez was looking forward to continuing his civilian career at MHIRJ when he learned the news in October 2024. Right away, Lopez contacted his supervisor to inform him and inquire as to any next steps he would need to take.

Empathy over policy

"I was expecting not to have a job. My supervisor and HR reassured me: 'Hey, just take care of what you need. You'll have a job when you get back,'" said Lopez.

According to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), employees are typically eligible for job protection after a 12-month employment period. Lopez, still in his probationary period of employment, knew his time at MHIRJ might be cut short. However, instead of receiving news that his employment would end, Lopez was met with something not often seen in larger companies: understanding. The HR team and Lopez’s supervisor prioritized his health and well-being, with the potential to come back to work when his health improved.

“I was very surprised that they were going to be okay with me being on medical for possibly longer than I’ve been actually at the job,” said Lopez.

Time to heal without pressure

Beyond formal support, the HR team and Lopez’s supervisor would regularly check in on him—not to ask for a timeline of when he would return, but simply to see how he was doing.

“They would call and check on me once every couple of weeks to see how I m doing and just to see how everything’s going.”

For Lopez, the space to focus on health and family made all the difference. The diagnosis has brought fear and uncertainty—not just about his health, but also his livelihood and the people who depended on him.

“When everything went down, you know, I was scared over the medical diagnosis, not knowing
what’s going to happen in my work life and worry about my family. The most helpful thing at the time was just being able to focus on my home life and not worry about the work life,” said Lopez.

Gratitude and a full return

Lopez’s story of unexpected bad news is far from the norm. Every day people go through hardships that don’t align with the “12-month” timeline typically required before a job is considered protected. His experience is a reminder that behind every job title is a person with a life outside of work—one that doesn’t pause for professional timelines or policy milestones. It reminds us the value of empathy in the workplace and the importance of creating space for employees to prioritize their health when it matters most.

Now fully back in his role as a Non-Destructive Technician, Lopez chose to share his story as a way to express gratitude—for the people who gave him the space to focus on what mattered most during a time that made all the difference.