The initiative got off the ground after San Diego Miramar College President P. Wesley Lundburg and Reedley College President Jerry Buckley found themselves in an impromptu discussion about their aviation programs during a 2023 Community College League of California conference. Then came the “aha!” moment.
“We said, ‘What if (California community colleges) all got together to leverage our ability to get funds by coordinating our efforts? How do we strengthen what we’re doing to benefit our students,’ ” Lundburg said. Both began reaching out to other colleges. “It’s been taking off faster than we could have hoped for.”
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The Alliance developed a mission and vision statement and detailed a series of goals and objectives, including promoting diversity and inclusion through scholarships and financial aid programs, as well as enhancing student pathways by expanding internships and industry partnerships.
In a little more than a year, the Alliance has held several workshops, such as an October 2024 event at Miramar College with representatives from 21 community colleges to hear from a trio of FAA officials — a Procurement Services and Grants Management division manager, a Grants Management branch manager, and an Aviation Workforce Development Grants Program coordinator — who detailed effective strategies when writing and applying for federal grants. Miramar College applied for one of the grants discussed, which targets student populations underrepresented in the aviation profession, and is awaiting news about the award.
The Aviation Alliance also is launching a new website and developing a logo to help with marketing and outreach. Meanwhile, cooperation among college programs has never been better. Miramar College’s Aeronautics and Aviation Chair Max Moore spent part of last summer at Reedley College 25 miles southeast of Fresno to learn more about Reedley’s recent aviation program expansion.
All of which fits into the heart of the Alliance’s strategic plan: collaborating effectively to enhance educational quality, increase access to aviation careers, and build a skilled workforce for the future.