Name: Eli Boyd
Age: 18
Hometown: Lorton, Va
School: South County High School
Graduation Year: 2023
Career Aspirations: I plan to graduate North Carolina A&;T in 2027 with my degree in
Mechanical engineering and join the AirForce as a 2nd Lieutenant where I hope to use
my private pilots license to help me become a fighter pilot. After 10 to 15 years in the
Force I plan to retire into the commercial field and fly airliners.
Hobbies & Interests: Although I’ve been pretty busy lately, my main hobbies are Biking, watching movies and hanging out with my friends.
Organizations/Clubs: Boy Scouts of America, Kappa League, Kappa Aviation, Jack &Jill of America, Civil Air Patrol, Kappa League Debate Team, German Club, Boys Volleyball club.
Why are you passionate about aviation?
Since the day I went to a Blue Angels air show in the fourth grade I can say that I’ve always been simply infatuated with the idea of flight. The three dimensional freedom associated with aviation is like nothing else and its potential application to other fields of work simply makes it more attractive.
What is your future aspiration?
My future aspirations are pretty much aligned with my career goals of being a Fighter pilot in the Air Force and, later on, a commercial airline pilot. In addition to this, I aspire to travel the world through my aviation careers and see this planet through the eyes of a pilot.
Why did you choose to apply to Tuskegee NEXT?
During the 2022 summer, I participated in OBAP’s Solo flight Academy and I can say that during those 2 weeks, I made some of my best memories and encountered a lot of truly amazing aviators. When I heard that there was a similar program taking place in the 2023 summer, I simply could not resist. My dream has always been to be a pilot and the opportunity to spend a summer learning how to fly with other black student pilots was one I simply could not pass up.