Craig Native Julie McCallister Dominates CNCC Aviation Program

Julie McCallister didn’t just fly planes. She taught them.

The Craig native requested the extra mentoring. She asked to teach the class. Nathan Shull, a senior flight instructor, took her under his wing. The result is a graduate who didn’t just pass CNCC’s Aviation Flight program — she dominated it.

McCallister graduated this spring with an Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Flight. She holds several additional certifications. They set her apart from her fellow students. She is one of the few women breaking into a field where less than 10% of pilots, technicians, and mechanics are female.

Her drive isn’t accidental. It’s inherited.

Her mother immigrated from Kyrgyzstan 25 years ago. McCallister grew up immersed in Russian and American traditions. Her family taught her the value of hard work. They taught her to strive for excellence. Kindness and compassion matter just as much as success, she says. Those values define who she is today.

“Follow your dreams and never let anyone convince you that your goals are too big or too difficult to achieve,” McCallister said. “No stereotype or expectation should ever stand in your way.”

That’s easy to say when you’re winning.

McCallister proved it on the tarmac. CNCC was named the top 2-year school in the NIFA Safecon Championships at the end of May. McCallister didn’t just watch. She competed. She finished second in the Certified Flight Instructor competition. She placed 16th in Shortlanding.

Nathan Hardin, Director of Aviation Technology, didn’t mince words about the partnership that made this possible.

“Julie requested additional mentoring and the opportunity to teach the class, and Nathan Shull, our senior flight instructor, took her under his wing and has been instrumental in her success,” Hardin said. “I am very proud of Julie, and I am equally proud of Nathan Shull for being such a positive influence and mentor to her.”

Hardin’s pride is well-founded. Shull’s mentorship wasn’t passive. He didn’t just answer emails. He pushed her. He challenged her. And she pushed back.

“I constantly push myself to grow and improve,” McCallister said. “I’ve done that by continually working toward and earning new aviation ratings.”

She’s not done.

McCallister plans to stay at CNCC. She will become a Certified Flight Instructor. She is working on her multi-engine rating this summer. The goal is clear: stay in the cockpit. Stay in Craig.

The broader context here is worth noting. Aviation remains a male-dominated industry. Women are the exception, not the rule. McCallister isn’t just an exception. She’s a blueprint. She’s proving that the barrier isn’t capability. It’s access. And CNCC is providing that access.

Locals often ask why community colleges matter. This is the answer. McCallister didn’t go to an Ivy League school. She went to CNCC. She got hands-on training. She got mentorship. She got a job waiting for her.

The short version: McCallister is leaving Craig with a degree, a reputation, and a plan to train the next generation of pilots. She’s not leaving to chase a corporate ladder in Denver. She’s staying to build something here.

Her mother’s advice from Kyrgyzstan to Craig to the cockpit holds up. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. McCallister works.

Shull watched her do it. Hardin measured the results. The community gets the benefit.

McCallister’s next stop is the cockpit. Her long-term destination is the instructor seat. She’s already there in spirit.

The question isn’t whether she’ll succeed. The question is how many other students will follow her lead.