When he first put pen to paper for his dream to introduce more young people to aviation, Lt. Col. Kenyatta Ruffin knew exactly who he needed to reach: youth in underserved populations across the US. Ruffin had gained so much from his hard work and the opportunities presented to him through his military service that he asked himself, “How can I pay it forward?” Ruffin was introduced to aviation through the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals in 1994, then appointed to the Air Force Academy as a cadet in July 1999. With increasing responsibility through a career as an F-16 fighter pilot, he rose to command the 71st Operations Support Squadron at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma in May 2020.
Legacy Flight Academy Soars
Key Takeaways:
- Lt. Col. Kenyatta Ruffin co-founded Legacy Flight Academy (LFA) to introduce aviation opportunities to underserved youth, particularly from Black communities, inspired by his own journey and the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.
- LFA provides "pre-discovery flights," mentorship from minority military aviators, and comprehensive programs to offer awareness, inspiration, and career exploration within the aviation industry.
- The academy employs a three-pronged approach ("Know, live and grow the legacy") and has significantly impacted over 1,500 youth with flights and 10,000+ through broader outreach, connecting them with aviation professionals and offering scholarships.
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