Meet Our Leadership
The International Sisterhood of Latinas for Aviation is guided by a dedicated team of visionaries and advocates from across aviation and aerospace. Together, they provide the strategic direction and inspiration needed to empower our members — and build a future where Latinas soar as leaders, innovators, and pioneers.
Ana Uribe Ruiz
President
A Private pilot with a love of aviation, STREAM and mentorship, Ana grew up in Quito-Ecuador, where her father formed an airline in the late 50’s that was the flag airline for the country for many years. Flying in the family from one place to another was the norm and spending some time with her dad and the flight crew in the cockpit, is when she was able to see the world in a different way. Flying came when she met her husband who was already a pilot and realized the love of aviation still in her. Empowering women to be the next generation of Aviators was something that she needed to do after noticing that the number of women in the industry are not enough. She is the recipient of the Jefferson Award for Public Service for giving an introductory flight to over 400 women. She is also a Special Needs mom, coauthor of Latinas in Aviation, For the Love of Autism and Today’s Inspired Leader.
Sandy Granados, CMA
Treasurer
A resident of Chicago, IL, she earned a Bachelors degree in Aviation Maintenance Management as well as her Airframe and Powerplant Certification from Lewis University in 2001. Sandy was the youngest female and only Latina aircraft mechanic hired by a major airline ATA(American Trans Air) in the year 2000, where she quickly obtained a position as senior line technician working on Boeing 727’s, 737’s & 757’s. She went on to work for The Gary Jet Center in Gary Indiana, where she contracted for Boeing’s Executive fleet of airplanes. She served as a flight technician and supported the fleet of Boeing Business Jet’s and Challenger aircraft as they operated around the world. Currently she works for Abbvie’s Corporate Flight Department as a Senior Flight Engineer, supporting their fleet of Gulfstream executive aircraft and still globe trotting around the world. She holds numerous training certifications - CAM- and has served on the NBAA as a committee member on the Flight Technician board. She is also an active member of Women in Aviation, Women in Corporate Aviation and other aviation related organizations.
Olga Custodio, Lt.Cral (Ret)
Secratary
Olga is a Latina military and commercial airline aviation pioneer with over 40 years in aviation. As the first Latina to complete USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training, she served for 24 years and retired as a Lt Col. Olga was also the first American Airlines Latina commercial airline pilot and retired a Captain with a 20 year career. Now a STEM advocate, speaker, author, and community leader, she advocates for inspiring and empowering students, especially in underserved communities, to pursue STEM careers in aviation and aerospace. She recently released her motivational memoir, Flightpath of FORTITUDE: Breaking Barriers, Building Horizons, available online.
Olga continues to fly in general aviation. She lives in San Antonio, Texas, “Military City USA”, with her husband, Edwin, of 51 years, has two adult children, Marcia and Edwin, and one grandson, Jedi.
Ames Samuelu
Product Manager
Born and raised in American Samoa, she is the founder of Captain of Lives, a mentorship program inspiring young girls from diverse backgrounds to pursue aviation. In between building one of Silicon Valley’s fastest-growing AI security companies, she advocates for women in aviation and works to expand opportunities in flying and tech. With a background in tech AI, robotics startups, and operations merger (one being Virgin America and Alaska), her intensity and velocity makes her a sought-after leader by investors and founders. A student pilot and single mom of two boys - one being a brilliant autistic son, she brings resilience, purpose, and unstoppable energy to everything she builds.
Jacqueline Pulido
Board Member
Jacqueline Pulido is a former A320 Captain. Her love of aviation stems from her childhood as an airline brat where her mom worked as a flight attendant and her dad as an airline pilot. She started flying at 17, her dream was to follow her father’s footsteps and one day become a Captain too. She is happily married and has two beautiful children. In 2017, she temporarily hung her wings to care for her children but still remains active in the aviation industry. Currently, she is an A320 simulator flight instructor, she teaches aviation English, and is a co-author of Latinas in Aviation. She also participates in programs that introduce children to aviation. She is passionate about safety in aviation, enjoys cooking, is a woman of faith in God, and is committed to helping advance girls and women in aviation.
Jenny Beatty
Board Member
Captain Jenny Beatty is longtime aviation researcher, writer, and advocate focusing on women and others historically excluded from aeronautical professions. She has founded aviation mentoring programs and networking forums, and served as scholarship judge and trustee. Born in Wisconsin, USA, she and her family lived in Brazil when she was small, and she lived in Colombia for a year as a high school exchange student, earning her Bachillerato. Captain Beatty flies for a major U.S. airline and is rated on large transport jets, seaplanes, and gliders. She offers free articles and resources to the pilot community at www.JennyBeatty.com.
María Cristina Maldonado Velásquez
Board Member
María Cristina Maldonado Velásquez was born in Colombia and from a young age discovered that the sky would be her destiny. She began her aviation career at Avianca in 1998, rising from Flight Attendant to Airbus 320 Captain over 21 years. Later, she joined VietJet Air in Vietnam, becoming the first Latin American woman to command an aircraft in Southeast Asia and China, and in 2020 was recognized as the safest pilot in the airline.
In 2024, she moved to the United States, transitioning to business aviation on the Citation Latitude. Today, she is a Citation CJ4 simulator instructor in Orlando, dedicated to training new pilots with technical excellence, passion, and discipline.
Through her flight scholarship program in South America, María Cristina champions opportunities for the next generation of aviators, especially women. Beyond aviation, she is a proud mother of three, carrying with her a message that defines her legacy:
Every dream can take flight, and lifting others along the way is the true legacy of an aviator.