Story ID: 
RedTail Academy Grad Receives Internship at Baldwin
By: Kait Wilson
Caption: Baldwin Safety & Compliance has initiated an internship program and welcomed its first participant from the first RedTail Academy graduating class.
Word Count: 405
Baldwin Safety & Compliance has launched a new internship program and welcomed Anthony Gilbert, a recent graduate of the first RedTail Flight Academy class, as its first participant in the program. During his six-week internship, he is focusing on projects involving global standards, regulatory research, and developing data for the testing portals in the Baldwin system.

The RedTail Flight Academy was established in September 2021 as an all-volunteer, 14 CFR Part 141 flight training program, inspired by and honoring the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. The program uses aviation as an aspirational platform to recruit, develop, expose, and place underrepresented talent in life-changing jobs and careers. Gilbert was one of six members of the first class of the RedTail Flight Academy to graduate on May 21, marking the 80th anniversary first class of eight Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen students from across the U.S. and the Virgin Islands. Two original Tuskeegee Airmen—Lieutenant Herbert Thorpe and Lieutenant Colonel Enoch Woodhouse, both Medal of Honor recipients—attended the graduation ceremony.

Baldwin Safety & Compliance has been involved with the RedTail Flight Academy since its inception as an ambassador to the non-profit program by donating the Baldwin safety management program and mentoring the RedTail safety manager on a pro bono basis.

Donald Baldwin, president of Baldwin Safety & Compliance, said, "I have always believed that internships are an excellent opportunity to introduce students to our industry and provide a foundation for their upcoming career. Baldwin is proud to be a part of the RedTail Academy program, and when it came to getting involved with these aviation students as interns with our company, we were excited to participate.”

Gilbert said of his internship, “This experience with Baldwin has already given me a deeper understanding of [safety management systems] and has advanced my awareness of safety when flying and the risks associated with my actions. I see opportunities to implement safety into my everyday life as well as when I am flying, so it has already been an outstanding experience, and I look forward to learning more in the next few weeks.” 

Gilbert completed his private pilot license through the RedTail Flight Academy and will be pursuing his commercial and instrument ratings at Luke Weathers, Jr. Flight Academy in Olive Branch, Mississippi. In August, he will be attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide as a result of the scholarship he was awarded.