I AM BLACK HISTORY | Nia Gilliam

Nia Gilliam

Nia Gilliam is Black History because her life represents courage, vision, and the relentless pursuit of access where none existed. She did not wait to see herself reflected in the aviation industry. She built a runway for others to follow.

Nia knew she wanted to become a pilot at just ten years old, despite never having seen a Black pilot and being told, directly and indirectly, that women did not belong in the cockpit. Supported by a determined mother and fueled by curiosity found in books at the local library, she held onto a dream few around her believed was possible. That dream carried her from flight training to becoming one of the few Black female airline pilots in the United States.

In 2016, a single question changed everything. When Nia and fellow aviator Angel Jean Charles asked how many Black women were actively flying in commercial or military aviation, they could only name about twenty. That realization sparked the creation of Sisters of the Skies, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing the number of women of color in professional flight decks through fellowship, mentorship, and scholarships.

What began as an informal gathering of Black female pilots near Chicago quickly grew into a nationally recognized organization. Sisters of the Skies officially became a nonprofit in 2017 and has since awarded more than one million dollars in flight training scholarships to over fifty women. Through its Girls Rock Wings outreach program, hundreds of young girls have experienced discovery flights, toured control towers, flown simulators, and seen firsthand that aviation is a space where they belong.

Nia’s impact extends far beyond organizational leadership. As an Airline Transport Pilot, she has flown multiple aircraft types on domestic and international routes. Her career includes moments of profound history, including witnessing the events of September 11, 2001 from the flight deck. That experience is central to her forthcoming memoir, which reflects on resilience, responsibility, and the weight of being present in pivotal moments of history.

Her journey has also included deeply personal battles. As a breast cancer survivor, Nia faced years of surgeries, recovery, and uncertainty while continuing to lead, mentor, and advocate for others. Through that experience, she became an even stronger voice for health awareness, wellness, and perseverance among women, particularly Black women who often face disparities in care and outcomes.

Sisters of the Skies has earned national recognition, including the prestigious Henderson Trophy from the National Aeronautic Association, with the award displayed at the National Air and Space Museum. The organization and Nia’s personal story have been featured on Good Morning America, PBS American Masters, Bloomberg, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and numerous other platforms highlighting the importance of representation in aviation.

Now based in Houston, Nia continues to serve as a leader, mentor, and advocate while raising the next generation. She is a proud mother whose influence reaches both her children and countless young women who now see a future in the skies because she chose to act.

Nia Gilliam is Black History because she transformed isolation into sisterhood and adversity into access. She proved that representation is not symbolic. It is life changing.

Black History is not only about breaking ceilings. It is about lifting others as you climb.

And Nia Gilliam continues to do exactly that.