My passion for commercial aviation was ignited while growing up in Alaska. As a teenager, I vividly remember flying out of Sitka to Petersburg, AK in a Boeing 727 where we threaded the mountain ranges in a series of steep banks and landed on a gravel runway! (Took me and the flight attendant about 5 minutes to help the guy next to me let go of his seat!) I pursued more of a "pay as you go" approach to my flight training, which started during my 10 years of service in the U.S. Navy as an Air Intercept Controller. After leaving the military to focus on a flying career, I spent an additional 6 years working to fund my training as a Certified Flight Instructor. Finally, in 2001, I accepted a job at Northwest Aviation College, and my wife and I moved to the Pacific Northwest before coming to Safety in Motion Flight Center in 2013.
Puyallup (KPLU) Location
When I was 15 I had my first flight lesson at an aviation summer camp, and I immediately knew I wanted to be a pilot. I continued to pursue flying during high school and ultimately decided to attend college where that first summer camp was held at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL. While there, I worked as a flight instructor to build my experience before moving on to the airlines. I currently fly the 737 for Delta Air Lines. My favorite part of aviation is sharing the experiences and lessons I’ve learned over the course of my aviation career with other aspiring pilots. When I’m not flying, I enjoy fly fishing, hiking, and spending time with my wife and family.
Back in 2020 when I was in high school and considering career options, one path came up and caught my attention: become a pilot and travel the world. "But that is going to take up so much time," I thought to myself, but at some point I heard someone say, "the time will pass anyway." Since then, my life has revolved around aviation. From flight training, to working at an airline, to researching random facts in my free time, I have become fascinated by the industry. As a PNW local, I have done all my training in the area, and now I also get the opportunity to instruct a new wave of pilots right where I learned. I am thrilled for the chance to not only teach, but also continue learning as a flight instructor.
Born and raised in Pierce County, Kylie has trained and completed her Private, Instrument and Commercial certifications. In 2024 she became a CFI here at Safety In Motion Flight Center. She enjoys sharing fun facts about planes to anyone who will stop to listen and is insistent on having the coolest job at her high school reunions. Her hope is to join a commercial airline as a first officer and work with some all female crews. Outside of her pilot life, Kylie enjoys camping, swimming, rock climbing, and board games. Most of all she likes to spend her downtime with her 3 cats, girlfriend, and her friends (who if willing will listen to some cool plane facts).
A native son of Pierce County, Grayson grew up to the south in the small town of Eatonville. An avid traveler having visited 14 different countries on 4 continents, flying has become an avenue for continued world exploration. Despite having family who own and fly planes privately, Grayson’s first flight at the controls was a helicopter Intro Flight in 2014, bought for him by his mother as a birthday gift. He has been hooked ever since. Now as part of the Safety in Motion team, Grayson strives to help forge the next generation of safe pilots as he continues forward for his next big adventure.
My name is Ben and I'm originally from the Seattle area. Becoming a pilot wasn't always on my bucket list. I got a degree in Business Management and got a job at a startup in Los Angeles after college. Shortly after that, the company laid everybody off and I started working as an Extra in mostly TV Shows in Hollywood. I ended up doing that for 7 years. I've been in the background of hundreds of different TV Shows, Movies, and Commercials. During the pandemic, I wanted a change. I took a discovery flight and enjoyed it so much I started my training. I found my way back to Seattle and am excited to be able to share my knowledge and experience with the next generation of pilots.
If you had told me in my early 20s, I was going to be a pilot one day, I would have laughed in your face and said, "Yeah right, no way.” I grew up in the 90s when fewer women were pilots, and people suggested I should become a flight attendant. After I graduated college in 2013, I went to work as a graphic designer, which only lasted 2.5 years before I found myself bored and stuck behind a desk Monday through Friday. With little idea of what I wanted to do next, I was yet again told to become a flight attendant. I figured why not; I would love to travel and get paid to do so. In October of 2015, I began training with Mesa Airlines, and it was here that I caught the flying bug.
Hi, I’m Fallon! I grew up in New Zealand and spent a few years traveling the world before eventually finding my way into aviation. Before becoming a pilot, I worked as a flight attendant ground instructor, where I discovered how much I love teaching. Now as a Certified Flight Instructor, I have the privilege of helping students build confidence, gain experience, and share the pure enjoyment of flying.
I completed much of my flight training in Oregon and have loved flying in the Pacific Northwest. Outside of aviation, I enjoy traveling and exploring new places, spending time outdoors, scuba diving, painting, or planning my next adventure.
I’m excited to be back in my home state sharing the joy of aviation through flight instruction. Though originally from the West Coast, I previously lived in Williamsburg, Virginia where I worked as a teacher for five years. While I valued my time in the classroom, I realized that aviation was where my passion truly belonged. Becoming a flight instructor has allowed me to combine my love for teaching with the adventure and discipline of flying. I enjoy helping students grow into safe, confident pilots and supporting them as they reach their own goals in aviation.
My journey to aviation is long and varied. My interest began in Wildland Fire with the Forest Service working in the Wilderness of Montana and on a helitack crew. When I was bored of being a ski bum in the winter between fire seasons, I decided to get a seasonal job fueling and aircraft support in Antarctica. In the winter of 2020, I took a Private Ground course just to fill my time, which came with a discounted discovery flight, and… here I am now! I wouldn’t have thought in the beginning I’d be on this journey but I don’t regret my path to Safety in Motion because it has given me a greater depth of understanding aviation. Outside of aviation, I enjoy spending time with my fiancé and our dog, Sir Ernest Shackleton, either hiking or fly fishing.
Though a DC native, my family moved to Kent when I was 12, before I moved to Puyallup after college. And while my parents told me I’ve had an obsession with airplanes as early as when I learned to walk, the first time I put it into words was in the second grade, where I was first given a writing assignment that asked the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?”. After I thought long and hard about it, the thought of flight, airplanes, and traveling felt exciting, and that day I knew without a doubt I wanted to become a pilot. Several years later, I went to Walla Walla University where I did most of my flight training, after which I graduated and flew back home here and did the rest of my training, just before becoming a part of the Safety in Motion team. When I’m not flying, I’m doing my other hobbies, like playing sports such as basketball and soccer, as well as playing video games, and watching football, basketball, and soccer. Whether I’m on the ground or in the air, I’m always looking forward to trying new things. Blue skies and tailwinds!
Olympia (KOLM) Location
Growing up, I used to go to the regional airport and watch airplanes take off and land, I knew I wanted to fly but unfortunately couldn't afford it. So, I enlisted in the Navy and worked primarily on Destroyers throughout my 8 years of service. Working on the flight deck, I gained an interest in helicopters and decided to apply to both Navy and Army helicopter programs but was denied due to my “almost perfect vision.” So in 2021, I decided to finally pursue aviation on my own and got my Private Pilot License, and the journey has continued from there. After separating from the Navy in October of 2024 I finished up my CFI certificate and am proud to be working at Safety in Motion Flight Center where I continue to try and better myself as an aviator and as an instructor. I look forward to helping you achieve your aviation goals.
Ever since I was little, I've been interested in flying. Through experiences while I was in the Boy Scouts and a flight to Hawaii, I knew I wanted to become a pilot. I attended Central Washington University as a student in their aviation program, ultimately working up to become a flight instructor, where I am now helping people reach their aviation dreams.
Jud is a 25-year Air Force veteran with over 2,000 hours in A-7s, A-37s, & F-16s and combat tours in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. After retiring from the Air Force, he founded an AFJROTC program in 2006 at Bethel High School in Spanaway. After retiring from teaching he continued to pursue his aviation passions in flight and kit planes. He is currently building an RV-6A, flying a Piper Tomahawk and working part time at Safety In Motion. Since he was young, he wanted to be an astronaut. He attended the Air Force Academy to pursue that dream, and through his experience there, realized that being a fighter pilot was the best thing he could do (after discovering he didn't like 0 G).
I grew up in an aviation family, but my interest began with Boy Scouts. During the annual aviation day, run by Alaska Airlines, we were able to fly a 737 simulator that the pilots used for training and tour other aircraft. We also learned the basics of aviation. After the Boy Scouts, I started volunteering there. I got my private here at Safety in Motion Flight Center to see whether I wanted to make it a career or just a hobby. After completing my private, I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. I decided to dive in 100 percent and get the rest of the licenses. I went to a flight school in Sacramento, CA to get it done. I wanted my first instructor position to be where I got my first license, here at Safety in Motion. My hobbies outside of flying involve tennis, gaming, and traveling.
Mark has over 3,600 flight hours and holds ratings of single and multi-engine airplane ATP, CFI, CFII, Remote Pilot (sUAS), and Flight Engineer Turbojet. He has flown 21 different aircraft and holds type ratings on the Boeing B-707/720 and the B-727. After graduating in 1982 with an engineering degree from Saint Martin’s College, he entered the Air Force. Upon completion of Pilot Training, he flew the KC-135Q refueling the SR-71 spy planes in the European and Pacific theaters. Later, he flew the KC-135R at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. After active duty, he joined the Washington Air National Guard flying the KC-135E while flying at American Airlines. He then transferred to the 111th ASOC, Camp Murray, becoming Director of Operations and Vice Commander.
My passion for aviation didn’t come until much later in life, but its driving factor started at a very young age. While I didn’t grow up around airplane enthusiasts, former fighter pilots, or aerodynamicists, personal growth and discovery were important components of my upbringing. A desire to learn is perhaps one of the most important skill sets that drives my growth and success as a person, a pilot, and an instructor. Growing up in a small Ohio town, there was little to do but explore the neighborhood. While that small town once seemed large, I quickly realized I had reached its borders and at 17 chose to move to the west coast. Only my 3rd time on a plane, flying into the Pacific Northwest presented a view of the world that took my breath away.
Tanner began his aviation career in Alaska, where he completed all of his flight training and built his early experience flying in some of the most challenging conditions in the country. After earning a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Alaska Anchorage, he began instructing in Anchorage, training new pilots while gaining extensive experience in tailwheel operations, mountain flying, and Alaska’s dynamic weather environment.
After nearly two years as a flight instructor, Tanner was hired by Ravn Alaska, where he flew the De Havilland Canada Dash 8 throughout the state, operating into unique destinations such as Dutch Harbor and Valdez.
In 2023, Tanner joined Alaska Airlines as a First Officer and relocated to the Pacific Northwest, where he now flies the Boeing 737. Tanner continues to instruct because he enjoys helping pilots develop strong aircraft control, sound aeronautical decision-making, and the confidence needed to operate safely in real-world conditions.
Growing up, I had always found aviation to be exciting. It was always in the back of my mind as something I enjoy learning about, but I didn't take it seriously until around my senior year of high school when I realized I needed to pursue a career. After taking an intro flight, I knew that aviation was what I wanted to do and I haven’t looked back ever since. When I fly, I am always reminded why I do what I do.
Growing up, I was always fascinated with airplanes, which eventually led me to start my aviation journey at Pangborn Memorial Airport in Wenatchee as a fueler. During my time there, I also became an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) responder, gaining valuable experience in airport operations and safety. Being around aircraft every day quickly turned that interest into a true passion, and I knew I wanted to pursue flying as a career. I went on to complete the Commercial Pilot Program at Big Bend Community College, where I earned all of my ratings from private pilot through CFII.
My goal is to not only help students pass their checkrides, but to help them become confident, capable pilots who are prepared for real-world flying.
It's never too late to learn to fly! I've wanted to fly my entire life but lack of funds, then professional and family obligations kept me from my dream until I was in my 50s. I often tell people that it took me 31 years from my first day of ground school until my Private Pilot Certificate! But flying has turned out to be a fantastic second career after my retirement from the US Army, not only as a Flight Instructor but also as a jet and now turboprop pilot. I fly seasonally with the Washington Dept. of Natural Resources in their Wildfire Management division but one of my favorite things is to introduce aspiring pilots to aviation and help them realize their own flying goals. Come talk to us at Safety In Motion!
My path into aviation has been pretty indirect and random. I always struggled to find something that I could see myself doing in the long term and in my early adulthood, I bounced between many different jobs and cities. I’ve worked in tech support, sales, pest control, counselling, and more, but when I got a job as a flight attendant on a whim, I finally found a career that I thought I could really commit myself to; it was just on the other side of the flight deck door. The more I looked into flight training, the more excited I got about it and all the varied experiences you can have within just one industry. Now, I’m thrilled to have my wandering behind me and to finally be back in my original home of the PNW to help others along this path too!