WELLA JAY

Wella, a Swiss native, moved to the U.S. at age 18, where she joined the U.S. Army. As an Army Captain, she served as a paratrooper and medical logistician, deploying to Afghanistan in 2013 with the Cultural Support Team (CST). This all-female program played a crucial role in integrating women into special operations, culminating in "Full Combat Integration" in 2016.



Her deployment experience profoundly impacted Wella, highlighting the unique capabilities of women and the need for gender balance in all career fields. She didn't begin her aviation journey until 2020, partly due to misinformation and financial limitations.

A scholarship from the Airmen's Association launched her career, and she vowed to "pay it forward" when the opportunity presented itself.

In 2024, Wella co-founded Sky Sisters of Alaska to support and empower Alaskan women interested in aviation through scholarships and education. She currently works as a flight instructor, is completing her Master's in Environmental Science, and enjoys spending time with her little family, exploring the backcountry, and baking sourdough bread in her free time.