From the Flight Deck to Public Office: Shelly DeZevallos on Why Aviation Experience Belongs in Policy.

Shelly DeZevallos has spent years working in and around aviation. On this week’s AVIATE podcast, she spoke about the connection between aviation and public service, why workplace culture matters, and why more aviation professionals should see policy as part of the industry landscape. That conversation matters in a sector that supports $1.8 trillion in economic activity, 9.4 million jobs, and 4.0% of U.S. GDP, according to the FAA’s latest national economic impact data.

Aviation and policy are closely connected.

Regulation, oversight, infrastructure, safety, and modernization all shape how the industry functions. The scale of the system alone makes that clear. The FAA says the U.S. includes 5,146 public-use airports, and U.S. air carriers transported 1.1 billion passengers in FY2024. Those are not abstract numbers. They reflect a system that depends on sound decisions at every level.

Policy is not separate from aviation. It helps determine how that system is funded, staffed, modernized, and managed.

A key part of the conversation focused on culture and belonging.

Shelly pointed to the everyday experiences that affect whether people feel welcome in aviation: being acknowledged, included, and treated like part of the team. In a field built on coordination and trust, those signals matter.

She also shared a story from earlier in her career about assuming another woman in the room was not a pilot. The example showed how expectations can be shaped by environment and habit, even within the industry itself.

Shelly also discussed what it has been like to move from aviation into campaigning.

One adjustment, she said, was learning to slow down. At the same time, she described how aviation prepared her to stay calm, listen carefully, and operate under pressure. Those skills have translated directly into public life.

Another part of the discussion focused on why more women do not enter policy or public office roles.

Shelly spoke directly about the scrutiny that comes with running for office, including criticism and public misrepresentation. She noted that these realities can discourage qualified people from stepping forward.

Her advice was practical: take the first step.

Progress, she said, often starts with a single decision to move forward.

One of the clearest takeaways from the episode was that shaping aviation policy does not only happen through elected office.

Shelly pointed to several paths, including safety investigation through the NTSB, certification and regulatory roles at the FAA, and government affairs work across manufacturers, associations, and aviation organizations. These roles are part of the broader aviation ecosystem, even if they are not always visible to young professionals entering the field.

This conversation underscored a broader reality: aviation experience has value beyond traditional roles.

The industry is stronger when people with operational knowledge and firsthand experience are part of the conversations that affect its future. That can happen through public office, regulatory work, advocacy, or organizational leadership.

Shelly’s closing message was straightforward: do not give up, take opportunities seriously, and keep moving forward.

Shelly DeZevallos is a pilot, aviation professional, and congressional candidate, and the featured guest this week on the AVIATE podcast.

This podcast conversation is now available on all podcast platforms. Listen now.

Until next time,
Shaesta