Landing an Aviation Career: From Pilots to Managers to Air Traffic Controllers
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2026
Pages: 280
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Jeffrey C. Price is a professor in the Department of Aviation and Aerospace Science at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, a widely published author, and the owner of Leading Edge Strategies, an airport management and training firm.
He is the lead author of Practical Aviation Security: Predicting and Preventing Future Threats (four editions), Practical Airport Operations, Safety and Emergency Management, and Denver Airports: From Stapleton to DIA, which reached #1 on Amazon in Commercial Aviation and is a bestseller in Aviation Pictorials. His latest book is Landing an Aviation Career: From Pilots to Managers to Air Traffic Controllers.
Jeff develops and instructs core professional programs for the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), including ACE-Security, the Certified Member body of knowledge, and the Airport Security Coordinator program, which he has led since 2003.
He also trains Incident Command, Airport Emergency Planning, and Incident Report Writing among numerous other programs. He has trained more than 15,000 aviation professionals worldwide, including airport executives, operations and security personnel, first responders, planners, administrators, and over 800 TSA inspectors.
Jeff holds a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a bachelor’s degree in Professional Pilot, is an FAA Commercial/Instrument and Remote Pilot, a Certified Member of AAAE, and a Certified Protection Professional (CPP).
His industry experience includes Airport Director at Jefferson County Airport, Assistant Director of Airport Security at Denver International Airport (DIA), airport operations leadership roles at Stapleton and DIA, a former U.S. Coast Guard officer in aviation intelligence, and expert witness in the 9/11 litigation and approximately 18 other cases.
A recognized aviation safety and security authority, Jeff regularly provides media commentary for major national and international outlets. He served on the Colorado Aeronautics Board by gubernatorial appointment and on the National Safe Skies Alliance board and has authored more than 400 industry articles.
Heather M. Bowers is an aviation career strategist, digital content creator, author, and former airline pilot recruiter and manager with more than a decade of combined experience working with pilots through airline pilot recruiting and hiring, as well as aviation career development.
She has held pilot recruiting leadership roles at regional and major airlines, including CommuteAir, Piedmont Airlines, and American Airlines. In 2017, she became the first Manager of Pilot Career Recruiting for American Airlines, where she oversaw pilot recruiting efforts and initiatives for the airline and its three wholly owned regional carriers. In this role, she led recruiting strategy, trained pilot recruiters, collaborated with flight operations and training leadership, and contributed to the selection of thousands of pilots and aviation professionals. Heather began her airline career in operations as a crew scheduler, providing her with an operational perspective that informs her approach to pilot selection and career development. She holds a college degree in Air Traffic Control, is a certified National Weather Observer, and has completed formal flight training.
In 2019, Heather founded Aviator Mentor, an aviation career development and education company she operates alongside her husband, Heath Bowers, a legacy airline pilot who supports coaching and client preparation. Together, they have helped pilots pursue and secure career opportunities around the world through consulting, coaching, interview preparation, and practical resources grounded in real-world hiring experience.
Heather remains actively involved in aviation education, mentoring, writing, and speaking. Her work emphasizes professionalism, preparation, and long-term career strategy, and this book reflects her experience evaluating aviation professionals from both the hiring authority and candidate perspectives.
Jeffrey C. Price is a professor in the Department of Aviation and Aerospace Science at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, a widely published author, and the owner of Leading Edge Strategies, an airport management and training firm.
He is the lead author of Practical Aviation Security: Predicting and Preventing Future Threats (four editions), Practical Airport Operations, Safety and Emergency Management, and Denver Airports: From Stapleton to DIA, which reached #1 on Amazon in Commercial Aviation and is a bestseller in Aviation Pictorials. His latest book is Landing an Aviation Career: From Pilots to Managers to Air Traffic Controllers.
Jeff develops and instructs core professional programs for the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), including ACE-Security, the Certified Member body of knowledge, and the Airport Security Coordinator program, which he has led since 2003.
He also trains Incident Command, Airport Emergency Planning, and Incident Report Writing among numerous other programs. He has trained more than 15,000 aviation professionals worldwide, including airport executives, operations and security personnel, first responders, planners, administrators, and over 800 TSA inspectors.
Jeff holds a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a bachelor’s degree in Professional Pilot, is an FAA Commercial/Instrument and Remote Pilot, a Certified Member of AAAE, and a Certified Protection Professional (CPP).
His industry experience includes Airport Director at Jefferson County Airport, Assistant Director of Airport Security at Denver International Airport (DIA), airport operations leadership roles at Stapleton and DIA, a former U.S. Coast Guard officer in aviation intelligence, and expert witness in the 9/11 litigation and approximately 18 other cases.
A recognized aviation safety and security authority, Jeff regularly provides media commentary for major national and international outlets. He served on the Colorado Aeronautics Board by gubernatorial appointment and on the National Safe Skies Alliance board and has authored more than 400 industry articles.
Heather M. Bowers is an aviation career strategist, digital content creator, author, and former airline pilot recruiter and manager with more than a decade of combined experience working with pilots through airline pilot recruiting and hiring, as well as aviation career development.
She has held pilot recruiting leadership roles at regional and major airlines, including CommuteAir, Piedmont Airlines, and American Airlines. In 2017, she became the first Manager of Pilot Career Recruiting for American Airlines, where she oversaw pilot recruiting efforts and initiatives for the airline and its three wholly owned regional carriers. In this role, she led recruiting strategy, trained pilot recruiters, collaborated with flight operations and training leadership, and contributed to the selection of thousands of pilots and aviation professionals. Heather began her airline career in operations as a crew scheduler, providing her with an operational perspective that informs her approach to pilot selection and career development. She holds a college degree in Air Traffic Control, is a certified National Weather Observer, and has completed formal flight training.
In 2019, Heather founded Aviator Mentor, an aviation career development and education company she operates alongside her husband, Heath Bowers, a legacy airline pilot who supports coaching and client preparation. Together, they have helped pilots pursue and secure career opportunities around the world through consulting, coaching, interview preparation, and practical resources grounded in real-world hiring experience.
Heather remains actively involved in aviation education, mentoring, writing, and speaking. Her work emphasizes professionalism, preparation, and long-term career strategy, and this book reflects her experience evaluating aviation professionals from both the hiring authority and candidate perspectives.