Military veteran and advocate Jessica Ruttenber—retired Air Force officer, founder of Level Up Aviation joins host Shaesta Waiz to explain why dismantling diversity, equity & inclusion programs threatens aviation safety, talent pipelines, and hard‑won policy gains such as the removal of a height restriction that once barred 44 % of U.S. women from military cockpits.

Politicized pushback against DEI is already shrinking grant dollars, sponsorships, and talent pools across aviation. Drawing on her work overturning the Air Force height standard and running Level Up Aviation scholarships, Ruttenber details how “trigger words” in funding applications are chilling support for nonprofits, why the FAA’s own data contradicts claims that standards were lowered, and what leaders can do—quietly or loudly—to interrupt bias and preserve equal access for future aviators.

From the myth that DEI lowers standards to the hidden costs of outdated specifications, this conversation delivers hard data, candid stories, and a roadmap for leaders who refuse to roll back progress.

Major Themes & Concepts

✅ DEI removes barriers—never qualifications

✅ FAA executive‑order rhetoric vs. actual safety data

✅ Height and anthropometric rules that excluded women & minorities

✅ Funding “trigger words” that chill nonprofit grants

✅ Change is a marathon: pacing advocacy to avoid burnout

✅ Leadership duty to interrupt bias in real time

✅ Inspiration + access: why representation still matters for recruitment

✅ Budget vigilance—protecting long‑horizon research

✅ Progress is nonlinear but defensible with facts and documentation

Chapter Breakdown

00:00  | Cold‑open—misconceptions about DEI and safety

01:39  | Host introduction—Season focus on women in aviation

03:34  | Framing question: DEI politicization and nonprofit fallout

04:14  | Executive‑order language vs. aviation safety data

08:04  | Funding “trigger words” and scholarship impact

10:46  | Removing the 44 % height barrier; advocacy pacing

13:57  | Women pilots data; crypto‑linguist case study

19:11  | Inspiration vs. access; role‑model visibility

24:10  | Leadership advice: interrupt bias, protect inclusive R&D

26:26  | Closing gratitude and sign‑off

Additional Resources

Follow Jessica Ruttenber

Follow Shaesta Waiz

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