Auralis LLC

Black History Month – Post 3/4
In honor of Black History Month, Auralis is continuing our series recognizing courageous Black aviators and aerospace leaders who have advanced the industry.

Today, we highlight Bessie Coleman – the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license and first African American licensed by the Federation Aeronautique
Internationale (FAI).

Born in 1892 – at a time where her race and gender were excluded from aviation –Coleman was denied admission to American flight schools. Undeterred, she learned
French and moved to France to complete flight school, earning her pilot’s license in 1921.

She returned to the US and became well known for her airshow stunts, using her platform to advocate for racial equality.

After surviving a crash caused by an engine stall during an airshow, she was hospitalized with critical injuries. From the hospital, she sent a telegram to her friends saying:

“TELL THEM ALL THAT AS SOON AS I CAN WALK I’M GOING TO FLY! AND MY FAITH IN AVIATION AND THE USEFUL OF IT WILL SERVE IN FULFILLING THE DESTINY OF MY PEOPLE ISN’T SHAKEN AT ALL.”

A tragic crash in 1926 cut her life short, but Bessie Coleman reshaped who could see themselves in aviation. Decades later, Dr. Mae Jemison carried a photo of Bessie
Coleman with her into space. Her legacy is also honored at ORD – with Bessie Coleman Drive.

Learn more about Bessie Coleman’s life and impact on aviation at: Chicago: Mathias, Marisa. "Bessie Coleman." National Women's History Museum.2024. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/bessiecoleman.

✈️ Auralis will be jetting off to AAAE | ACC Airport Planning, Design & Construction Symposium in Indianapolis March 4–6, focused on aviation project leadership and conversations.

If you’ll be there, let’s connect.

See you on the ground.

Black History Month – Post 2/4
In honor of Black History Month, Auralis is continuing our series recognizing courageous Black aviators and aerospace leaders who have advanced the industry.

Today, we highlight Dr. Mae Jemison - engineer, physician, Peace Corps medical officer, and the first Black woman to travel to space.

Born in 1956, Jemison grew up visiting the Adler Planetarium and checking out science books from the library. She went on to Stanford, where she received degrees inChemical Engineering and African American Studies, followed by a medical degree from Cornell. Before NASA, she served in the Peace Corps in West Africa - an experience that shaped her global perspective.

In 1987, she was selected as a NASA astronaut. Then, on September 12, 1992, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, she became the first Black woman to travel to space.
But her impact extends far beyond that historic mission.

Through STEM education, entrepreneurship, and initiatives like 100 Year Starship, Jemison continues to champion the belief that:
“Everyone should benefit from the bounty of this planet and its resources, not just those already well positioned. Solutions, technologies, and systems are more sustainable and beneficial when they are built drawing upon the full range of human perspective, skills,
experiences, and talents.”

Learn more about Dr. Mae Jemison from the National Women’s History Museum.

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/mae-jemison

As we continue outlining our internal Strategic Priorities, this week we’re focusing on Trusted Voice.

For us, Trusted Voice means being intentional about what we share - ensuring it’s accurate, thoughtful, grounded in experience, and something we can confidently stand behind.

BuilttoDeliver

In honor of February being Black History Month, Auralis is launching a multi-part series recognizing just a few of the courageous Black aviators who have been instrumental in advancing aviation.

We’re starting with the Tuskegee Airmen – the first Black military aviators in the US Armed Forces.

The first cadets began training in 1941 at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama, with 450 pilots serving in overseas missions during World War II.

Despite facing systemic discrimination and segregation, these airmen built an extraordinary combat record - most notably as the 332nd Fighter Group, the “Red Tails,” who flew bomber es**rt missions across Europe and earned respect for their “tenacious air cover.”*

Meanwhile, Black officers stationed back home were “denied access to the base officers’ club despite being trained military officers, violating Army regulations.”*

The Tuskegee Airmen’s distinguished service and their willingness to challenge injustice exposed the deep contradictions within a segregated military and contributed to the eventual desegregation of the US Armed Forces.

In 1948, President Truman signed Executive Order 9981, stating “there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed forces without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin.”**

Their legacy extends far beyond WWII – reshaping military aviation and the entire aviation industry.

Learn more about the Tuskegee Airmen from the Tuskegee Museum.

*Quotes sourced from https://tuskegeemuseum.org/history/
**Sourced from https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/executive-order-9981

A few weeks ago, we introduced Auralis' Strategic Priorities - our internal principles which guide how we make decisions, choose partners, and focus our efforts. We're starting with Strategic Partnerships.

For us, Strategic Partnerships mean building a small, trusted bench of firms with aligned values. When trust and transparency are established early, collaboration is smoother and roles and expectations are clear from the start.