President - Jerry Dooyes
jerry.dooyes@latinopilot.org
Although I was born in Redwood City, California, my cultural roots come from a long Latino lineage. My mother is from South America, and my father from Europe. Spanish and Dutch were always spoken in the household and the benefits of hard work were always instilled in me as a child. My mother and two of her brothers were already at work in the world of aviation, and one might say that is the reason I decided to pursue a career as a professional pilot. Having a supportive family behind me was of the utmost importance on my journey to the cockpit, and not a day goes by when I am not grateful for what they've done for me over the years. Currently I am a First Officer for United Airlines. Since I started flying professionally, I have participated with recruiting, job fairs, interviews, safety committees, simulator evaluations, and served as an Assistant Chief Pilot at my last airline. Ultimately, flying internationally on a 'heavy' is my professional goal.
Starting the Latino Pilots Association made a lot of sense to myself and the other founding members, because over the last 10 years, we have always sought volunteering opportunities and come up with ways to 'give back'. We recognized the need for representation of Latino Pilots, as we are a growing demographic within our profession. Spreading awareness and providing guidance to younger and future generations of pilots will be of greater importance as we move forward over the years as an industry. Thus, the LPA will fill that void on a not-for-profit basis while continually seeking other volunteer opportunities across North, Central and South America. In my leisure time, I enjoy reading economic and financial literature, traveling, fishing, going to the beach, shooting guns, flying for fun, spending time with family, and cooking.