ABOUT LFA

The Legacy Lives On

The legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen is not confined to history—it lives on through every young person inspired to pursue excellence, leadership, and a future without limits. Legacy Flight Academy® exists to ensure that legacy continues to inspire the next generation of aviators, innovators, and leaders.

Legacy Flight Academy® (LFA) is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen through character development, aviation experiences, STEM education, mentorship, scholarships, and aerospace career pathways.

We believe that exposure creates opportunity.

For many young people, a first flight, a conversation with a pilot, or an introduction to aerospace can spark a lifelong passion. Through hands-on programs and meaningful mentorship, LFA helps students discover new possibilities for their future while developing the character, discipline, and confidence required to achieve them.

Our mission extends beyond aviation.

The Tuskegee Airmen demonstrated that excellence, courage, integrity, and service can overcome barriers and create opportunities for future generations. Those same principles remain at the heart of everything we do. Whether a student becomes a pilot, engineer, military officer, entrepreneur, or community leader, the lessons of the Tuskegee Airmen provide a foundation for lifelong success.

WHY IT MATTERS

Closing the Gap

Aviation and aerospace offer some of the most exciting opportunities in the world, yet many young people never have the chance to experience them firsthand. Legacy Flight Academy® works to close that gap by providing access to the experiences, mentors, and opportunities that transform curiosity into confidence and dreams into careers.

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Every student who discovers a passion for flight.

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Every young person who gains the confidence to pursue a STEM career.

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Every future leader inspired by the example of the Tuskegee Airmen.

That is how the legacy grows.

“The sky is the limit until it's your point of view.”

MEET THE LEGACY

Leadership That Embodies the Legacy

Legacy Flight Academy® is led by accomplished military aviators, airline captains, aerospace professionals, and mentors whose own lives were shaped by the opportunities created by those who came before them.

From Air Force Academy graduates and military pilots to commercial airline captains and aerospace leaders, our team represents the very pathways we seek to create for future generations. Today, they are committed to opening those same doors for the next generation through mentorship, leadership, and service.

Kenneth "KT" Thomas

Kenneth "KT" Thomas

President · Founder of Eyes Above the Horizon®

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Kenneth "KT" Thomas

President · Founder of Eyes Above the Horizon®

Kenneth “KT” Thomas is a Captain on the Airbus A320 and A321 at American Airlines and a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve, where he serves as a C-130 Navigator at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia. A graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio's Air Force ROTC program, he has accumulated more than 1,700 military flight hours across multiple aircraft, including the C-130 Hercules, E-8C JSTARS, T-1A Jayhawk, T-6 Texan II, and T-43, along with more than 660 combat hours. A Bronx, New York native and the son of two Air Force veterans, Kenneth founded Eyes Above the Horizon to inspire and mentor the next generation of aviators, particularly young minorities. A longtime leader with Legacy Flight Academy, Kenneth has been involved since 2012, became a formal partner in 2015, and now serves as the organization's co-founder and President.

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Aaron "Air" Jones

Aaron "Air" Jones

Vice President · Founder of P.A.R. Motivations®

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Aaron "Air" Jones

Vice President · Founder of P.A.R. Motivations®

Aaron “AIR” Jones is an active-duty Colonel in the United States Air Force, currently serving on staff at the Pentagon. A 2005 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, he is a decorated fighter pilot with more than 3,200 flight hours across multiple aircraft, including the Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle, A-29B, T-6A, and T-38. Passionate about mentorship and community service, Aaron founded P.A.R. Motivations to inspire young people to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace. He has been involved with Legacy Flight Academy since 2012, officially partnered with the organization in 2015, and currently serves as its Vice President. His leadership and volunteer efforts have earned numerous awards and helped elevate Legacy Flight Academy to national recognition.

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Valyncia S.H. Thomas

Valyncia S.H. Thomas

Treasurer · Chair of Fundraising and Scholarship Committees

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Valyncia S.H. Thomas

Treasurer · Chair of Fundraising and Scholarship Committees

Valyncia S.H. Thomas is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, an attorney, and a United States Air Force officer with more than 22 years of service. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills, master's degrees in Organizational Management and Military Operational Art and Science, and a Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law. Throughout her career, Valyncia has demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership, education, and community service. She has served as the Warrior Traditions Program Director at Veterans Village of San Diego, as a university program chair and adjunct professor, and as Captain of Team Mama Dee, raising awareness and support for pancreatic cancer research. She currently serves as Treasurer and Chair of the Scholarship and Fundraising Committees for Legacy Flight Academy, helping expand opportunities for underserved and underrepresented youth through aviation education and mentorship.

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Tieu Meyers

Tieu Meyers

Secretary

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Tieu Meyers

Secretary

Tieu Myers is a dedicated public servant and aviation enthusiast with a passion for leadership, organization, and community engagement. She serves in the United States Air Force, where she specializes in contracting and supports mission-critical operations with integrity, attention to detail, and a commitment to excellence. As Secretary of the Legacy Flight Academy Board, Tieu is committed to maintaining transparent communication, fostering collaboration among board members, and supporting the organization’s mission of inspiring and developing the next generation of aviation leaders. She believes in the power of mentorship, education, and creating opportunities that encourage young people to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace. She is honored to contribute her time and experience to help Legacy Flight Academy continue making a positive impact in the community.

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Alex Cole

Alex Cole

Marketing Chair

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Alex Cole

Marketing Chair

Alex Cole is a Captain on the Boeing 737 for United Airlines and a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with more than 20 years of active-duty service. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, he has accumulated more than 7,000 flight hours and 1,200 combat hours across multiple aircraft, including the T-37, T-1A, RC-135, C-32B (Boeing 757), and Boeing 737. During his military career, he served as a Presidential pilot supporting both the Bush and Obama administrations. Inspired by a family legacy of military service, Alex is dedicated to mentoring and inspiring the next generation through aviation. He has spoken to students and community organizations across the country, earning numerous awards for his volunteerism and support of minority youth and transitioning veterans. Alex currently serves on the Board of Directors for Legacy Flight Academy.

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Benjamin "Omni" Ayivorh

Benjamin "Omni" Ayivorh

Mentorship Chair

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Benjamin "Omni" Ayivorh

Mentorship Chair

Benjamin “Omni” Ayivorh is a Major in the United States Air Force and currently serves as a T-38A Adversary Air Pilot at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. A 2015 graduate of Southwestern College in Kansas, he has logged more than 1,400 flight hours in the F-15C/D Eagle, T-6 Texan II, T-38A/B/C, and several general aviation aircraft. He began his Air Force career in 2009 as an enlisted Tactical Aircraft Maintainer before earning his officer commission in 2016. A native of Burke, Virginia, Benjamin developed his passion for aviation through his father, whose lifelong dream of becoming a pilot inspired his own journey. Committed to creating opportunities for the next generation, he has been involved with Legacy Flight Academy since 2017, helping introduce underserved and underrepresented youth to careers in aviation through mentorship and flight education.

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