Karen Kalishek elected new NAFI board chair

Bob Meder, left, current chair of the National Association of Flight Instructors, and Karen Kalishek, right, incoming chair. Photo by Kollin Stagnito.

Kalishek joined the NAFI board in 2018 and has focused on runway safety and the FAA Safety Team Wings Pilot Proficiency Program.

“As the upcoming chair, one of my personal visions is we need to grow the community of CFIs,” said Kalishek. “With this pilot shortage we need more CFIs to train more pilots. So, one of our initiatives will be to grow the CFI population—not simply in numbers but in quality and value, and to have CFIs consider this to be a real career opportunity, not just a steppingstone to something further.”

Kalishek is a designated pilot examiner; an airline transport pilot; and an instrument, multiengine, and glider instructor, among many other flight training qualifications. She is the FAASTeam lead representative in the Milwaukee Flight Standards District Office and a major in the Civil Air Patrol.

“Karen’s enthusiasm and passion is an asset to the organization,” said Meder. “Her experience and impressive career are a perfect fit to carry on the important work NAFI does for flight instructors and all of aviation education.”