ALUMNI
andrea martinez
First Officer - United Airlines (Boeing 737)
First Officer Andrea Martinez was born and raised in Colombia. Growing up in Colombia she dreamed of being a pilot, but back then it was a career that was mostly for men. When she moved to the United States, she had a layover in Miami and saw a female pilot, and that’s when she realized that she could do it as well. When she was in high school, she was selected to participate in the Mile High Flight Program and made it to Phase Two. After Andrea soloed, she knew flying was what she wanted to do the rest of her life. She attended Colorado Northwestern Community College, where she got her pilot and instructor ratings. After instructing at CNCC for a year, she went to Great Lakes Airlines and flew the Beechcraft 1900. While at Great Lakes, Andrea finished her Bachelor’s degree online. After Great Lakes, she spent a few months at Express Jet Airlines flying the Embraer E-145, and then two year at Frontier Airlines flying the Airbus A-319 & A-320. She is currently a First Officer at United Airlines, where she flies the Boeing B-737.
tommy fortson
First Officer - United Airlines (Boeing 737)
Tommy is originally from Atlanta, Georgia where his dream of being a pilot was born after receiving his first ride in a small Cessna at the age of 9. He and his family moved to Colorado in 1995 where he was introduced to the MHF program and United Airlines Captain Eric Mosley. He graduated from the program in 1998 after completing Phase II at the age of 16 and soloed at Centennial Airport. Through the financial help and motivation of his parents and working jobs at the local airport he kept earning his pilot ratings and kept his dreams in focus. In 2001, he graduated from Grandview High School and later from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2005 with a degree in Aviation Technology. He began his professional career in 2007 as a corporate pilot, flying the Citation III and the West Wind IAI. The journey continued through the regionals including Mesa Airlines and SkyWest on the CRJ 200, 700, and 900. Tommy equates his success to the Tuskegee Airmen who paved the way, and to the leaders and volunteers in the Mile High Flight Program. Now as a pilot for United, flying on the Boeing 737 he finds passion in giving back to the program that gave him so many opportunities as a young person.
stephen rocha
First Officer - Delta Air Lines (Boeing 717-200)
Born and raised in Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia, Stephen's family immigrated to the United States in 1999. First Officer Rocha grew up in Denver and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 2007. Stephen always aspired to be an airline pilot and since childhood, he enjoyed trips to the airport and playing Microsoft Flight Simulator. During high school, Rocha participated in the Mile High Flight Program, earned a “Phase 2” solo flight scholarship and began his journey. He attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he majored in Aeronautical Sciences with a minor in Air Traffic Management and graduated in 2011. He also completed an internship with Delta Air Lines and earned all his flight certificates and ratings during college. After graduation, he worked at Scenic/Grand Canyon Airlines flying the DHC6 Twin Otter. He moved on to fly the Embraer 145 at ExpressJet Airlines, flying for the United Express network. After 6 years at ExpressJet, Rocha was hired by Delta Air Lines and now flies the B717-200. He will soon train on the New A220 (CS100/300) as part of the initial cadre to introduce this new, state of the art airplane to American commercial aviation. Stephen is proud to return to the organization that gave him his start in aviation and now serves as mentor to the next generation of pilots and aerospace professionals.
