Join us for a conversation with Brian Bermudez, Vaughn alumnus, aviation maintenance professor and director of the airframe and powerplant (A&P) curriculum at Vaughn College. Brian discusses his love of aviation and teaching, how Vaughn’s A&P program is unique in preparing students for their license exams, where students can work (beyond traditional airlines) and how much they can make in their first year as a mechanic. He also discusses his consulting business, Craft of the Air (COTA), his podcast and his mission to expand access to aviation maintenance education. This episode offers practical insight and inspiration for anyone considering a career in aviation maintenance.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uwTQNpKRNv0

Vaughn College President Sharon DeVivo speaks with Talon Air CEO James Chitty about career opportunities in charter aviation. They discuss the aviation workforce shortage, Talon Air’s partnership with Vaughn, and how technology and sustainability are shaping the industry.

In this inspiring episode of Futureproof Focus, Vaughn College President Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo sits down with trailblazer and Vaughn alumna Samantha Mitchell—founder and president of Black Women in Aviation. From her beginnings as the first female aircraft mechanic for Air Jamaica to launching a movement focused on representation and mentorship, Samantha shares her powerful journey through a male-dominated industry and her mission to redefine the norm.

Learn how her time at Vaughn helped her discover her calling, the hurdles she overcame and the passion that drives her to uplift future generations—especially young women of color—toward meaningful careers in aviation and aerospace. This episode offers a fresh perspective on leadership, empowerment, and what it really means to be futureproof.