Photo – The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics welcomed more than 600 children to Oklahoma’s Third Annual Girls in Aviation Day on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 at the AAR campus at Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) partnered with several community organizations to host the third annual Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) on Saturday, September 20, 2025. The event took place at the AAR Campus at Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City.
Presented by the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association, the event attracted more than 600 children and 400 adults, along with 35 exhibitors. Young explorers had the opportunity to learn about aviation-related careers and interact with pilots and aerospace professionals across various fields, including engineering, robotics, drone development, aircraft maintenance and repair, and aircraft operations.
KOCO SKY 5 Chief Pilot Chase Rutledge served as the Master of Ceremonies. Guest speakers included Jeff Mulder, A.A.E., the director of airports for the OKC Airport Trust representing the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association, and Jim Bridenstine, former NASA administrator and U.S. representative.
The keynote speaker, Colonel Eileen Collins, a retired astronaut and U.S. Air Force colonel, shared insights from her pioneering career, including her historic role as the first woman to pilot and command the space shuttle. Following her presentation, Collins engaged the audience in a question-and-answer session before the screening of “SPACEWOMAN,” a documentary based on her autobiography, “Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: The Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space Mission.”
The Oklahoma Aerospace Foundation received support from various industry and academic partners, including Oklahoma EPSCoR, the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma City Airport Trust, Critical Components, AAR Aircraft Services, Sundance Airport, the Oklahoma National Guard, the Oklahoma Defense Industry Association, and the ODAA.
Globally, more than 40,000 children aged 8–17 participated in Women in Aviation International’s (WAI) 10th Annual Girls in Aviation Day in their local communities. WAI, a nonprofit organization with multiple chapters across the state, is dedicated to encouraging and advancing women in aviation career fields and interests.
