January 15, 2026
As a high school student, Cilicia Diaz was asked to design her dream version of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) for a school project. Today as a college intern working in Airport Operations at SEA, Diaz has come full circle. She is helping shape the same airport from behind the scenes, and gaining hands-on experience with an organization that played a key role in introducing her to the world of aviation.
Diaz’s journey into aviation began in the classroom through the Museum of Flight’s Aeronautical Science Pathway (ASP) Program, where she was introduced to careers in airport management and operations during her junior and senior years. The program blends classroom learning with real-world projects designed to expose students to aviation careers they may not have previously considered.
As part of ASP, Diaz and her classmates collaborated with the Port of Seattle and SEA on design challenges, including proposing improvements to airport facilities and processes. One year Diaz’s team’s airport design placed second overall. Another year Diaz and fellow students proposed ideas for what would eventually become the new Checkpoint 1. Today, with Checkpoint 1 now open, the checkpoint incorporates elements similar to those proposed by ASP students — something Diaz gets to see firsthand as she works at the airport today.
Building pathways to aviation careers
The Port of Seattle is committed to introducing students to Port-related careers through its workforce development and career awareness programs, helping create pathways to living wage careers located in students’ backyards. For Diaz, that early exposure was critical in helping to shape her future.
Her interest in aviation was sparked during a visit to the Museum of Flight with her aunt in 2017. Her counselor at Tahoma High School encouraged her to apply to the Aeronautical Science Pathway (ASP) Program, a decision she said changed the trajectory of her life. Through the program, she was able to see herself in aviation careers she hadn’t previously known were possible for her. “ASP changed the beginning of my life,” Diaz said. “I couldn’t imagine being anywhere in the aviation industry without it.”
ASP also provided scholarship opportunities to help support Diaz on her educational journey. She earned a flight training scholarship, graduated high school with her private pilot certificate, and received a postsecondary scholarship that helped fund her education. With college credits earned during high school, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science at Green River College in just two years. She later petitioned to apply her remaining scholarship funds toward a Master’s degree in Aviation Safety at the University of Central Missouri, where she expects to graduate in May 2027.
Gaining a behind-the-scenes view at SEA
After interning at Boeing Field, Diaz brought her growing experience to SEA as an Airport Operations intern. Much of her time is spent at the International Arrivals Facility (IAF), working alongside Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to help improve passenger flow and efficiency.
Her role touches many aspects of airport operations — from assisting travelers and supporting customer service, to submitting and coordinating work orders, identifying maintenance issues, and helping manage projects.
Working at SEA has given Diaz a new perspective on airport design and operations, including a deeper understanding of regulations, environmental review processes, financial considerations, and the complex coordination required to keep a major international airport running smoothly. “ASP provided that base level knowledge for what I needed to work at the airport,” Diaz said. “Now I’m learning how creativity and innovation fit within real-world constraints.”
Looking up — on the ground and in the air
While Diaz loves working on the operational side of aviation, her ambitions also extend skyward. After earning her commercial pilot’s certificate, she plans to earn her flight instructor certificate by summer 2026. She signed onto the Horizon Air Pilot Development Program in 2024, which provides job security for her future as an airline pilot and supports her long-term goal of flying the Boeing 787 for Hawaiian/Alaska Airlines.
Her experience in airport operations has also given her a broader understanding of aviation. “I have a newfound respect and understanding for the operations world, which is something a lot of pilots don’t have,” Diaz said. “That behind-the-scenes experience builds empathy and makes you a better professional.”
Creating opportunity through access
Diaz says programs like ASP and partnerships with organizations like the Port of Seattle are critical for students who may not otherwise see a future for themselves in aviation. With women making up just 6% of pilots, Diaz didn’t initially see herself in the field. But the resources and opportunity these organizations provided opened up her world.
“As a kid I never thought there was a possibility for me to become a pilot or for me to get my entire college education funded,” she said. “As a minority girl, as a brown girl, as part of the LGBTQ+ community, you don’t see many pilots like me in the cockpit.”
The experience and support opened doors for Diaz she hadn’t even known existed. “This experience taught me how to be a professional,” she said. “It taught me that no matter my background, I can be that next person.”
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