OUR MISSION The mission of the Organization of Black is to enhance, advance and promote educational opportunities in aerospace and to develop and sustain a process for mentoring of youth from cradle to career. Vision Statement The vision of the Organization of Black is to commit to the realization of an aerospace industry in which all individuals have equal opportunities to expansive careers. Objectives To motivate youth to become educationally prepared for life To increase minority participation in aviation and aerospace through exposure, training, mentoring and scholarships To increase the number of underrepresented minority professionals, engineers, scientists and management personnel in aviation and related industries To better assist our organization, membership concerns and constituencies.
HISTORY In 1976 Ben Thomas, a young African American pilot with Eastern Airlines, spearheaded an effort to form a permanent body to address the lack of diversity in aviation. He invited thirty- seven African American pilots, representing nearly 50% of the industry total at the time, to convene at O- Hare Hilton Hotel in Chicago on September 17 th and 18 th. The Organization of Black (OBAP), then called The Organization of Black Airline Pilots, was formed as a result of that collaborative meeting with a focus of preparing youth and young adults to realize successful careers in aviation. The organization quickly became a prominent advocate and thought- leader in improving conditions industry- wide. In 1986, OBAP's General Counsel and Eastern First Officer Eddie Hadden testified before a U.S. Congressional hearing on airline industry hiring practices. As a result, Congress began to strengthen accountability measures to monitor the performance of minority recruiting. In 1994 OBAP member and Pan Am Pilot Ed Moon offered additional testimony before a similar session. The hearing brought increased awareness of the lack of diversity within the airlines, encouraging swift changes to industry standards in direct partnership with minority organizations like OBAP. Additionally, the testimonies helped to increase available pilot positions and opportunities for people of color and elevated the civil rights issue to a high priority for government officials nationwide. The unwavering commitment to increase diversity by leading aviation professionals, many of which have been OBAP members, increased the number of African American pilots by more than 400% between 1976 and 1986, just 10 years. Of the 400 African American pilots at the time, 14 were women with the most notable Bessie Coleman paving the way. Beginning in 1992, in an effort to augment the dwindling military supply of pilots, then OBAP President, Captain M. Perry Jones encouraged the U.S. Congress to appoint a panel and fund a 2- year study by the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate the nation's supply, demand, and production capacity for airline pilots beyond the year 2000. As a result of the study, the U.S. Armed Forces became obligated to increase minority participation in the military, allotting positions designated solely for minority pilots. OBAP continues to recognize and strengthen opportunities for collaboration with organizations including the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. (TAI) and Black Wings in Aviation (NAI) who have served as passionate advocates for African Americans in aviation for more than 70 years. In 1982 the organizations collaborated to provide invaluable historical accounts of African Americans in aviation for the "Black Wings" exhibit presented by the Smithsonian s National Air and Space Museum and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The exhibition is being toured nationally until early 2016.
HISTORY cont. OBAP took the opportunity to convene joint national conventions with TAI and NAI in the 1990s. During this time, OBAP served a leading role in establishing FAA- endorsed Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academies to introduce, educate and guide diverse students towards careers in aviation. In 1992, OBAP supported two ACE Academies reaching 41 students. In 1994, we co- sponsored 17 Academies and reached more than 400 students. Today, OBAP's ACE Academies provide exposure to the history of aviation, fundamentals of aerodynamics, air traffic control procedures, aerospace technologies and a host of aviation careers to more than 1,100 students in 30 cities nationwide. In 2005, OBAP established four Centers of Excellence in Memphis, Louisville, Atlanta and Houston to provide centralized community- based resources that would ensure youth engagement from childhood through to established aviation careers. In Houston, under the leadership of Xavier Samuels, a United Airlines first officer pilot, youth are first introduced to aviation through in Schools (APIS) initiatives through longstanding relationships with the Houston Independent School District, Texas Association of Partners in Education (TAPE) and the City of Houston. Once in middle school, youth have the opportunity to participate in Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academies held each summer in partnership with Army ROTC among others. Additionally in Houston, OBAP continues a 12- year partnership with Sterling High School and Texas Southern University to guide young- adults throughout their academic path. From 2006 to present, with the support of strategic partners like the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation, and the Federal Aviation Administration, the Houston Center of Excellence alone has reached more than 50,000 youth. OBAP is proud of the unwavering commitment of its members for nearly 40 years. U.S. Census Bureau 2010 reports state that African Americans, men and women, account for just over 6% of the 266,135 aircraft pilots, flight engineers, air traffic controllers, airfield operations specialists and flight attendants employed nationwide. Therefore our efforts continue, stronger than ever, to effectively implement lasting change on behalf of our diverse
CAPTAIN KARL MINTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR Captain Karl Minter is a B- 767 Captain for United Airlines with over 19,500 hours of flying experience. Capt. Minter is Chairman of the Organization of Black (OBAP), a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization. Capt. Minter is also a retired Lt. Colonel with 26 years of service in the United States Air Force Reserve, serving in multiple assignments including HQ USAF, DCS Plans and Programs, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Executive Support Center at the Pentagon. Capt. Minter is an Aviation Subject Matter Expert (SME) with Aircraft Accident Investigation Credentials. He is an engaged community leader, Board Member for the Friends of Tuskegee National Historic Site (FTANHS), and member of the Board of Trustees, Tuskegee University. Capt. Minter also consults with aviation industry leaders on next generation technologies, training, mentoring and human capital development. Captain Minter is originally from St. Albans Queens, NY. He has been involved in aviation for the last 41 years. He has a B.S. from Embry- Riddle University, and a MBA (Honors Graduate) from Regis University. He has worked for Sikorsky Aircraft Company in Stratford, CT, as a Flight Test Engineer prior to becoming a pilot for the United States Air Force. Capt. Minter flew C- 141B Star- lifters both at McGuire AFB, NJ, and Andrews AFB, MD. He also flew C- 20B aircrafts at the 89th Presidential Airlift Wing at Andrews AFB, MD. He was a combat decorated command pilot who flew missions to Grenada, Panama, Desert- Shield, and Desert- Storm, while providing safe and efficient worldwide transport to the Department of Defense, Whitehouse staff and national leaders. Capt. Minter has numerous medals, citations, and certificates from his military service career. Since becoming a pilot for United Airlines, Capt. Minter has flown DC- 10 s, B- 757/767 s, and B- 777 s, B- 737 (Line Check Airmen), and the Airbus 319 / 320 aircraft. As Chairman, he is directly responsible for the development of critical partnerships between industry, educational institutions and the community to maximize the exposure of our youth to Aerospace, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) career fields. Capt. Minter is married with three grown children, and they live in northern Virginia.
CAROLE HOPSON BOARD OF DIRECTORS VICE CHAIR Carole Hopson is a professional pilot, and works as a flight instructor in Morristown, NJ. Aviation had always been her passion, so she pursued flying as a second career, while raising her family. Although aviation is her current vocation, previously she spent seven years as the Vice President/Director for Training & Development of Foot Locker stores. There, she headed up executive- level leadership coaching, as well as store associate training, creating original product knowledge videos and sales training for over 140,000 associates. She began her career as a police reporter and has worked for the Bergen Record and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She has also held executive- level positions with the National Football League and L Oreal Cosmetics. Mrs. Hopson graduated from Columbia University in 1990, with a Masters of Science degree in Journalism, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia. While at Virginia, she majored in Spanish Literature. Carole and husband, Michael Hopson, have two sons, Joshua and Coleman, and they make their home in Montclair, New Jersey.
CAPTAIN ALBERT GLENN BOARD OF ADVISORS Captain Albert Glenn, FedEx pilot, served as Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Organization of Black (OBAP) and Former Managing Director Of Global Flight Operations for FedEx Express Corporation. Captain Glenn s career at FedEx spans over 41 years. He has served numerous management positions at FedEx from Flight Duty Officer to Chief Pilot. He has over 14,000 flight hours and is qualified in B777, MD11, DC10 and B727 aircraft. He worked with customer service, the global operation control center, and pilot hiring. He began his flying career as an instrument and multi engine flight instructor, 135- charter pilot, and worked in aircraft sales. Capt. Glenn has served as Associate Vice President for the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the leading non- profit organization for model aircraft aviation. He is also currently on the Aviation Advisory Board at Western Michigan University. He was also the 2007-2011 USA F3A Aerobatic team manager. As a member of the Tuskegee Airmen and advisor to OBAP, Capt. Glenn works with the Project Aerospace youth- based initiatives; ACE Academy, Solo Flight Academy, in Schools and with Wooddale High School in Memphis and B.C. Rain High School in Mobile, Alabama supporting their aviation programs. Capt. Glenn s wife, Janice, is a senior manager for FedEx. He has three sons; one is a MD11 first officer for FedEx, another works with Amnesty International, and the youngest flies UAVs (drones) and was recently named the FAI F3A National Champion at the AMA Nats 2015, the 89th National Aeromodeling Championship presented by the National Society of Radio Control Aerobatics. He is the very first African American to earn this achievement. Capt. Glenn has set deep roots in the Memphis community since moving there in 1972. He has a Bachelor Degree in Political Science from the University of Memphis and is a member of Grace United Methodist Church. Capt. Glenn has devoted most of his life to training youth who have the desire to be part of the future of the aerospace industry.