About Captain Judy Rice

Judy Rice builds partnerships across the world to help make a difference in the aerospace industry workforce and the education of students interested in technical fields. She is Founder and Captain of ThinkGlobalFlight, an around-the-world flight of adventure promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) education and inspiring students. This historic international flight increased the number of students across the globe, interested in and inspired by aviation and aerospace as they followed the crew on their journey around the Earth.

Throughout her life, Judy has had a passion for aviation and space technology. This passion coupled with sixteen years as a teacher eventually brought her into the field of aerospace education. She values the experience gained as a special education specialist because it gave her a broad knowledge of the learning process.

She held the title as President to the National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education. The National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education represents government, industry, and labor; united to promote aviation and space education activities and resources; increase public understanding of aviation and aerospace; and support educational initiatives at the local, state, and national levels.

Her position with the X-Plane Flight Simulator Company provided the technological understanding necessary in today’s global society. Rice’s tenures with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Deputy Director Aerospace Education and with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) as the Executive Director Youth Education involved a wide variety of skills: collaborations with various national aerospace education organizations; developing, writing, and editing curriculum; script writing and video production; implementation of curriculum programs in schools through-out the nation; professional development; large scale volunteer/member coordination efforts; coordinating the largest air show event in the nation for youth, KidVenture; and director to two national aerospace conferences.

The National 4-H Aerospace Curriculum Project hired her to produce a series of publications that eventually involved 35 businesses and thousands of pre-college 4-H members. During the 4-H project, Ms. Rice learned to fly and is an instrument rated commercial, multi-engine, Citation type-rated pilot, advance ground instructor, certified flight instructor and logged thousands of hours in numerous aircraft. Captain Rice holds the world absolute NAA Speed Over a Recognized Course Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Reykjavik, Iceland and the FAI Circumnavigator Certificate. She is the proud owner of a Grumman TR2 airplane.

Ms. Rice’s work has taken her to almost all 50 states and many countries representing aerospace education over the past 20 years. She has numerous awards and accomplishments in her portfolio and a member of many aviation and space organizations. Her goal is to share her passion for aviation and her extensive experience with youth and adults worldwide.