Choose Aerospace President Highlights Impact of Award-Winning High School Program on Aviation Workforce
Ryan Goertzen, president of Choose Aerospace, has highlighted the success of the organization's High School Program, which recently won the MRO Grand Laureate Award at Aviation Week's 2026 Laureate Awards. The program is designed to address the shortage in the aviation maintenance workforce by equipping high school students with industry-recognized credentials and opportunities for early FAA mechanic certification. Since its inception in 2020, the program has reached nearly 2,000 students across 40 U.S. programs. A notable success story from the program includes a student from Putnam City High School who began learning aviation basics as a sophomore and has since secured full-time employment in the industry. 
