Olga Custodio’s “Flightpath of Fortitude” Soars: A Memoir of Groundbreaking Achievement
05 Jun 2025
Popular keynote speaker Lt. Colonel Olga Custodio, USAF (Retired), is a history-making aviator and an unrelenting advocate for opportunity and inspiration. Now, with the release of her powerful new memoir, Flightpath of Fortitude: Breaking Barriers, Building Horizons, Olga is inviting readers—and audiences—to join her on a journey through the clouds and beyond. Flightpath of Fortitude is a deeply personal reflection from the first Latina to become a military pilot in the U.S. Air Force—and the first Latina commercial airline captain for American Airlines.
“As a young girl, I never saw anyone who looked like me in the cockpit,” Olga shares. “Flightpath of Fortitude is about changing that—for every dreamer grounded by doubt, this is your runway.”
Through decades of trailblazing service in the sky and on the ground, Olga’s voice has become a beacon for aspiring aviators, STEM learners, and anyone facing the headwinds of adversity. As Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Chad T. Manske of the Daedalian Foundation writes, “Custodio crafts her story with clarity, warmth, and an unyielding sense of purpose.” Claudia Cataldi of the Brazilian Press Association adds, “She reminds us that belonging isn’t about waiting for a seat at the table; it’s about daring to build your own runway.”