Riley Gregoire

My name is Riley Gregoire, and I currently live in Altus, OK, where I am building flight hours toward my Commercial Rating. I grew up on Bainbridge Island, WA, just outside of Seattle, in a sports-obsessed family that gave me the opportunity to compete in both soccer and softball at a national level. That passion ultimately led me to play collegiate softball at Oregon State University and later at UMass–Amherst.

In 2021, I took my first discovery flight and immediately fell in love with aviation. I earned my Private Pilot License at Tacoma Narrows Airport in Gig Harbor after a year and a half of paying my own way. To this day, it remains my favorite airport-perched above the Puget Sound with breathtaking views. After earning my PPL, I began my Instrument Rating in Olympia, WA, but due to my husband's Air Force assignment, we relocated to Altus. With no nearby Part 141 schools, I commuted an hour and a half each way to Wichita Falls, TX, to complete my rating. Eventually, I transitioned to flying at my local airport, where I am now training under a retired Air Force pilot and current simulator instructor while building my hours toward my Commercial Rating.

My short-term goal is to earn my CFI and use it as an opportunity to educate, mentor, and inspire the next generation of pilots. Ultimately, my long-term goal is to fly for the airlines-connecting people across the world while serving as a role model for future female aviators to pursue their dreams in aviation.