Rahdames "Nick" Villafana has worked for the FAA as an Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI)/Course Manager for the FAA Academy’s Airworthiness Branch for nearly 5 years. Prior to joining the FAA, Nick worked on Apache Helicopters and was an instructor in the U.S. Army for almost 10 years. He then flew drones in Afghanistan for several years. Eventually, Nick went on to work at a Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facility, maintaining passenger and cargo aircraft.
This past May, Nick completed his Master’s Degree in Aerospace Administration and Logistics. Upon completion of his studies, it brought home to him the importance of helping others in providing a clear path of instruction, especially to those interested in becoming a part of the aviation industry, or any industry for that matter. This is how Nick became a volunteer in the STEM Aviation Space Education (AVSED) program. Nick explains, "These kids are the hope of tomorrow and I was very fortunate that someone took the time to guide me throughout my career. I just want to do the same for others."
With a strong desire to ’pay it forward’, a childhood friend of Nick’s from church (who happens to be a pilot for UPS) reached out to Nick and his wife to see if they would be willing to talk to some kids about their careers during a recent ACE Academy event. So Nick jumped in the car and drove 400 miles, while his wife, a First Officer for a commercial airline company opted to fly nearly 2,000 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina to attend the event. Together, they wanted to talk to students and share their passion for aviation, no matter what the distance.
The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) was hosting a five-day ACE Academy in Austin, Texas, July 9-13, 2019. The camp was directed by Matt Caldwell and Brian Cornelius. The camp had 10-12 students between the ages of 15-18 years old. The students participated in activities involving basic aerodynamics, aviation weather, and gaining an understanding of our U.S. National Airspace System. Students also engaged in critical networking skills, where they were able to utilize what they learned and could ask insightful questions on career day. They also took a field trip to some Georgetown, Texas airports where they received introductions to aircraft mechanics, the occupation of air traffic control, fixed-based operations (FBO’s) and airline employees in their workplace. "As an FAA ASI, I spoke/provided information to the students about Aviation Safety and gave them an outlook on the future of the industry. My wife, First Officer Danielle Villafana, spoke about her life as an airline pilot and what paths she took to accomplish her goal. She and I went into great detail about the importance of education, ensuring that they maintain good grades and stay positive," says Nick.
Nick goes on to emphasize, "It is so important to give back to these students. I believe that with proper guidance, anyone is able to succeed. The concept of working backwards is what some students need help with. They know what they want to become. It is important to provide different pathways and to devise a plan in order to achieve it. Many of us have come from similar backgrounds like these students. We know what has to be done and can provide the experience of what we did to achieve their same dreams."
When asking Nick about what he would say to a colleague who may be interested in volunteering with a STEM AVSED activity, he notes, "I would say to them that events like this could be the difference maker in a kid’s life. We are all blessed, and to see these kids hanging on to your every word is priceless. For most of us, someone took the time to bring us up; we owe the same to all kids."
