mile high flight crew
william eric mosley
Captain - United Airlines (Boeing B-777)
Captain William Eric Mosley is the proud son of original Tuskegee Airman, John W. Mosley. At a very early age, Mosley senior instilled in his son, the importance of service before self, hard work and the pursuit of excellence. Captain Mosley, a distinguished graduate from the Air Force ROTC program at Colorado State University, completed Undergraduate Pilot Training in 1982. Mosley served 20 years on active and reserve duty in the United States Air Force, upgraded to Instructor and Flight Examiner and earned his Command Pilot wings. He was hired by United Airlines in 1990 and has flown several aircraft, including the Boeing 727, Boeing 737, Boeing 777 and the Airbus 319 and 320. In addition to his duties as a United Airlines “line pilot”, Captain Mosley is privileged to be part of the team who recruit and hire the next generation of pilots to fly the “friendly skies”. Mosley, a Distinguished Alumnus from the Kent Denver School, has received several awards and commendations, including the United Airlines “United We Care” Chairman’s Award For Excellence, and the Tuskegee Airmen’s Noel Parish Award.
darryl searuggs
Captain - Federal Express (Boeing B-777)
Captain Darryl E. Searuggs is an airline pilot and Denver Colorado native. Growing up in Denver’s African American neighborhood located in the Northern section of Park Hill, Captain Searuggs lived under the shadow of airplanes arriving and departing from Stapleton International Airport. After graduating from George Washington High School Darryl earned a bachelors degree from Metropolitan State University of Denver and was commissioned into the United States Air Force through the ROTC program at the University Colorado Boulder. After serving 22 years he retired as a Command Pilot having been an instructor in both T-38 and C-141B aircraft and also having earned a Master’s of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. In 1996 FedEx hired Darryl where he flew the B-727 and MD-11 as second, then first officer. Currently he is a Captain on the B-777 based out of Memphis Tennessee. Searuggs is dedicated to working with the talented team of Mile High Flight Program coordinators as they endeavor to ensure opportunities are presented to and made available to students hailing from all and especially those communities underrepresented in the fields of aviation, aerospace, the sciences and technologies. Captain Searuggs also holds a Master’s of Divinity from Denver’s Iliff School of Theology and is an ordained minister in the “Christian Church Disciples of Christ” (DOC).
maurice newton
Captain - Federal Express (Boeing B-757)
First Officer Maurice Newton did not aspire to be a pilot until his college years. During his path to becoming an Eagle Scout, he discovered the U.S. Air Force Academy and aspired to attend there. While there as a cadet, he had his first flight and then solo in a glider. From that point on he knew flying was in his future. After graduating the Academy as a 2Lt, F/O Newton stayed at the Academy as an Admissions Officer working to increase minority enrollment. He then completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Williams AFB in 1990 where he was chosen to remain as an Instructor Pilot in the T-38. In 1993 he returned to the Academy to instruct cadets in Primary Flight Screening in the T-41 and T-3. In 1997 he left active duty to join FedEx Express and also the USAF Reserves as a C-141 pilot. At FedEx, he has flown in B-727, Airbus 300, and is now currently flying the B-757.
john frazier
Captain - Federal Express (MD-11)
Growing up in Denver, Captain John Frazier became obsessed with airplanes and aviation from a very young age. As a child, he would watch airplanes take off and land at Stapleton Airport. Captain Frazier graduated from Manual High School in 1990. At age 19 he earned his Private Pilot License while a student at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He went on to become a Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor with Single and Multi-Engine, Instrument, and Advanced Ground Instructor Certificates. Frazier flew and instructed in numerous types of general aviation airplanes. In the Fall semester of 1994 he was selected for an internship with United Airlines at the Denver Training Center. The following year he graduated from MSU Denver with BS degrees in Aviation (Professional Pilot) and Sociology. Captain Frazier flew for Alpine Air and United Express (Great Lakes) before being hired by FedEx as a pilot in 2000. Frazier spent 8 years on the Boeing 727, and has been on the MD-11 since 2008. Captain Frazier's career with FedEx has taken him many places in the world, including numerous cities in the Pacific Rim, Asia, Europe, the far East, and Southeast Asia. Captain Frazier considers himself privileged to work with kids in the Mile High Flight Program and help those from humble beginnings follow their dreams.
Andrea martinez
First Officer - United Airlines (Boeing 737); MHFP Alumni
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); MHFP Alumni
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.
willy martinez
First Officer – Boutique Air (Pilatus PC-12), Flight Instructor
Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Willy always loved airplanes and the idea of flying. However, this was a goal that was far from reach due to the lack of aviation schools and opportunities in the island. Once he moved to Denver, he realized that he could make his dream of being a pilot come through, and that is when he decided to attend Metro State University and major in Aviation. While attending Metro, Willy also worked at the Community College of Denver as the International Student Services Coordinator, where he was in-charge of overseeing more than 150 students on student visas from more than 50 different countries. Willy also worked for Jeppesen/The Boeing Company, flight instructed, & part 135 & 121 regional flying. He is currently a pilot for United Airlines where he flies the Boeing 737. Though he has a deep history in the aviation industry, his passion remains a dedication to imparting his knowledge and wisdom to the students of the Mile High Flight program. In addition to serving as one of our very best “Phase 2” flight instructors, Willy is instrumental in developing and standardizing our student flight training programs.
kelly marcotte akulschin
First Officer - Fed Ex (Boeing 757)
Kelly Marcotte Akulschin is a Denver native who dreamed of being a pilot since she can recall. Kelly's mentor and her mother’s best friend was Emily Howell Warner. In 1973, Emily was the first woman pilot to be hired by a scheduled US airline. On a family trip to Washington D.C. Kelly saw Emily's pilot uniform in the Smithsonian Institution, and it made a lasting impression that anything is possible. Kelly graduated from Manual High School in 1994 and enrolled in the flight program at Metropolitan State University. She was selected to be an intern for United Airlines as the intern coordinator at the Denver Training Center in 1997. Kelly graduated in 1998 and was a fight instructor and pilot for a skydiving operation until being hired by United Express. In 2001, Kelly worked briefly for American Airlines, before accepting a career with FedEx. Kelly has flown numerous general aviation aircraft, Beechcraft 1900, Boeing 727, and the Boeing 757.
stephen rocha
First Officer - Delta Air Lines (Boeing 717-200); MHFP Alumni
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.