Influential Woman · Aviation

Diana Raby

Member, Women in Aviation International

Colorado Springs, CO

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's degree in progress at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Junior) Degree Associate's degree in UAS in progress at Cochise College (one class remaining) Cert Private Pilot License Member The Ninety-Nines (Denver Chapter)

Her Story

About Diana

I've always wanted to fly ever since I was a little kid. Before the Army, I worked in the kitchen, mostly at Texas Roadhouse where I started as a dishwasher and salad person, then moved up to Fry Expo Point. I did really well, so they made me a training coordinator where I taught people in my store how to do their jobs. Then they sent me on the road as an opening trainer to teach people how to work fries. I joined the Army because I wasn't making the progression I needed to go to school to fly. I've been in for five and a half years, and my MOS is drones. I just returned from deployment in the Middle East where I served as a door gunner and crew member for Chinooks (CH-47). I picked up E5 earlier this year. I started flight training at Fort Campbell in Tennessee, but my flight school shut down and I had to find a new instructor. Then I got orders to Fort Carson in Colorado, and I basically had to start all over again in one of the windiest areas of the U.S. It was really hard balancing the military, DoorDashing, and college while doing that, but I finished my private pilot license before I deployed. That's my most notable achievement so far. I'm currently working on my instrument rating and I'm a junior at Embry-Riddle working on my bachelor's degree. I also have one class left at Cochise College for an associate's in UAS. I'm getting out of the Army next year to keep pursuing aviation because my big goal is to eventually get to the airlines.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Diana

01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would tell her to do it. You never know until you try, and you don't want to have any regrets, because the only thing we are guaranteed in life is death, so we want to live as much life as we can before that happens. Flying is one of the best feelings in the world, especially when you do it by yourself. When you're flying alone in a plane, it's just the best feeling. You're like, wow, I did this, I accomplished this. It's like, not many people can do this. And it's empowering, and it feels really good. It's just a good sense of accomplishment and a pride thing. If she really wanted to do it, I would tell her to start with her medical and to get her written done, because once you get your written test done, that means you know all your ground, and flying is a lot easier when you don't have to learn what's going on before you go up in the air. The airplane is the worst place to learn new things. You want to learn these things on the ground and then practice what you learn up in the air.

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