Dana Kirchmar
Aviation Leader, Entrepreneur, and Advocate
Professional Bio
Dana Kirchmar is a trailblazer in the aviation and aerospace industries, with over 37 years of experience spanning startups, Fortune 50 corporations, and global enterprises. From launching classified space shuttle missions to flying at near-supersonic speeds during flight testing, Dana’s career has been defined by innovation, leadership, and resilience.
Dana is the founder of The Elevate Initiative, a dual-focused platform designed to empower women in aviation and aerospace while educating executives and leaders on fostering inclusive workplaces. Through The Elevate Initiative, she provides coaching, training, and mentorship to help women advance their careers while equipping organizations with strategies to attract, retain, and promote female talent.
Dana’s influence extends beyond coaching and consulting. She serves on the Board of Directors for Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum and the Captain Jeppesen Foundation, is an Industry Advisory Board Member for Colorado State University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, and is the Secretary of the School Board for Colorado SKIES Academy.
Recognized for her thought leadership, Dana shares her insights through speaking engagements, her "Beyond the Flight Deck" newsletter, and the upcoming "Elevating Women in Aviation and Aerospace" podcast, where she celebrates women who have blazed their own trails to beat the odds in these male-dominated industries.
Dana is the founder of The Elevate Initiative, a dual-focused platform designed to empower women in aviation and aerospace while educating executives and leaders on fostering inclusive workplaces. Through The Elevate Initiative, she provides coaching, training, and mentorship to help women advance their careers while equipping organizations with strategies to attract, retain, and promote female talent.
Dana’s influence extends beyond coaching and consulting. She serves on the Board of Directors for Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum and the Captain Jeppesen Foundation, is an Industry Advisory Board Member for Colorado State University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, and is the Secretary of the School Board for Colorado SKIES Academy.
Recognized for her thought leadership, Dana shares her insights through speaking engagements, her "Beyond the Flight Deck" newsletter, and the upcoming "Elevating Women in Aviation and Aerospace" podcast, where she celebrates women who have blazed their own trails to beat the odds in these male-dominated industries.
Individual
WAI Chapter Affiliation
Mile High Chapter - 49