Profile
Dana Donati is the General Manager and Director of Academic Programs at LIFT Academy, a Republic Airways Company. Before being named General Manager and Director of LIFT Academy, Dana held leadership roles in both the airlines and aviation higher education.
Joining Republic Airways in 2005, Dana was a First Officer on the Embraer 170/175 and upgraded to Captain on both the Dash 8 Q400 as well as the Embraer 170/175. After spending several years as an airline pilot, Dana became the first female Assistant Chief Pilot for Republic Airways.
As an Assistant Chief Pilot, her interests became more directed towards leading people and understanding the operation. It was during this role she became more involved with volunteering at local high schools and colleges, while educating students about the careers in aviation. Because of the influence she had in her community, Dana accepted a position as the Dean of Aviation at the Community College of Beaver County. As the first female Dean of Aviation at CCBC, she was able to follow her passion of inspiring youth, especially females, to consider all the opportunities aviation had to offer.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dana now resides in Indiana. She earned an Associate of Science degree in Professional Pilot from the Community College of Beaver County, a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management from Robert Morris University, and a Master of Business Administration in Aviation from Embry Riddle University. Dana is a member of the USDOT Women in Aviation Advisory Board, CCBC Foundation Board of Directors, Women in Aviation International and Advancing Women in Transportation.
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