CHONG CHRISTENSEN
Saint George,UT
Summary
Dynamic aviation leader with deep expertise in pilot recruiting, talent outreach, flight operations, and safety management. Demonstrated success in enhancing pilot pipelines, boosting candidate engagement, and streamlining recruitment processes. Recognized for achieving a 50% reduction in ATS processing time and doubling the flow of pilot candidates through strategic partnerships with universities, flight schools, and industry organizations. Collaborative strategist adept at influencing workforce planning, leading high-performing teams, and driving data-informed hiring decisions.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Talent Acquisition Outreach Partner
Alaska Air Group
Seattle, WA
01.2025 - 02.2026
- Managed key talent pipelines and pathways programs, maintaining long-term candidate relationships as they progressed toward full-time qualifications.
- Partnered with TA leadership and hiring managers to refine pipeline strategies and influence workforce planning.
- Oversaw daily execution, reporting, and analytics for 600+ cadets and pathways initiatives.
- Represented Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air at universities, flight schools, and career events to strengthen hiring channels.
- Built strong connections with candidates and program participants to enhance engagement, retention, and alignment with AAG culture.
Sr. Manager, Pilot Outreach & Partnerships
Frontier Airlines
Denver, CO
01.2023 - 01.2025
- Cultivated strategic alliances with flight schools and universities to address pilot recruitment demands.
- Analyzed pilot demand forecasts to strategically align recruitment with workforce planning and training resources.
- Developed and implemented dashboards to monitor cadet progress, hiring funnel metrics, and program performance.
- Guided cadets through mentorship while collaborating with HR and flight operations to ensure operational readiness.
- Executed budget management and guided 28 pilot mentors to support recruitment initiatives and boost engagement levels.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Conducted assessments of new hire training gaps to identify trends and orchestrated monthly cross-departmental calibration calls to ensure alignment in hiring initiatives.
Manager, Pilot Recruiting
Frontier Airlines
Denver, CO
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Managed pilot recruitment processes, focusing on improving candidate interactions and eliminating operational barriers.
- Designed and implemented pipeline‑building initiatives that increased recruiting efficiency and supported more than 360 cadet graduations annually.
- Collaborated with marketing to elevate recruitment materials and strengthen brand presence.
- Achieved improved recruitment outcomes by analyzing key hiring metrics and facilitating weekly cross-functional updates to streamline communication and collaboration.
- Developed training programs for staff, improving knowledge of procedures and customer service excellence.
- Fostered a culture of continuous improvement through regular feedback sessions and performance evaluations.
Flight Operations Safety Manager
SkyWest Airlines
St. George, UT
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Oversaw flight operations SMS, ensuring adherence to regulatory and internal safety standards.
- Conducted thorough safety assessments and risk analyses to identify hazards and mitigate risks in flight operations.
- Provided strategic advisement to senior leadership and facilitated safety reviews and cross-departmental meetings to enhance organizational safety protocols.
- Collaborated with management to develop company-wide safety policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Manager, Flight Ops Pilot Sourcing
SkyWest Airlines
St. George, UT
2016 - 01.2020
- Spearheaded pilot recruiting strategy and executed national outreach initiatives.
- Cultivated recruiting partnerships while directing event planning, interview processes, and hiring logistics.
- Led a diverse team of 70+ pilot recruiters and 3 coordinators, ensuring alignment with organizational recruitment goals.
- Boosted team performance by fostering collaboration and driving continuous learning through targeted training and regular development sessions.
- Reduced costs, optimized resource allocation, and improved efficiency in managing logistics.
- Analyzed pilot-focused social media engagement and industry hiring patterns to optimize content strategy.
- Streamlined workflows by identifying bottlenecks in existing systems and implementing appropriate solutions.
Earlier Roles
SkyWest Airlines
Saint George, UT
1992 - 2016
- Pilot Recruitment Coordinator
- InFlight Training Coordinator
- InFlight Instructor
- Flight Attendant
Skills
- Pilot Recruiting & Talent Outreach
- Leadership & Team Development
- Safety Management Systems (SMS)
- Partnership Development
- Program & Pipeline Optimization
- Workforce Forecasting & Planning
- Candidate Engagement
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suites, iCIMS, Airline Apps, Smartsheet, Salesforce
- Excellent communication
Timeline
Senior Talent Acquisition Outreach Partner
Alaska Air Group
01.2025 - 02.2026
Sr. Manager, Pilot Outreach & Partnerships
Frontier Airlines
01.2023 - 01.2025
Manager, Pilot Recruiting
Frontier Airlines
01.2022 - 01.2023
Flight Operations Safety Manager
SkyWest Airlines
01.2020 - 01.2022
Manager, Flight Ops Pilot Sourcing
SkyWest Airlines
2016 - 01.2020
Earlier Roles
SkyWest Airlines
1992 - 2016