An Aviation Rarity: Meeting One of Only Two Women FAA A&P Examiners

Written By Beth White

Our Modern Rosies had the distinct privilege of meeting with Sheryl Oxley, one of only three FAA aviation mechanic examiners in the country, during their recent Zoom call. As is customary during lunch & Learn meetings for the Modern Rosies, it was a working lunch, and today’s session was particularly insightful. Sheryl, the only woman among the trio of FAA Airframe and Powerplant technicians at Tulsa Tech in Oklahoma, brought both her technical expertise and her down-to-earth, hometown charm to the discussion, making the experience welcoming and engaging for all.

Sheryl’s deep knowledge of the aviation industry was evident as she shared her journey and expertise with the group. The Rosies were eager to ask questions on a range of topics, from the mechanics of aviation to the challenges and opportunities within the industry. Her insights provided a unique and valuable perspective, especially given her role as a leading examiner and technician in a field historically dominated by men.

For our Modern Rosies, this was more than just a professional exchange; it was an opportunity to hear from a woman with decades of experience in a technical field that demands precision and skill. Sheryl's willingness to share her journey not only informed the group about the nuts and bolts of the aviation industry but also inspired them to keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible. This meeting highlighted the importance of women in aviation and reinforced the mission of the Modern Rosies to support and encourage women in technical fields.

Beth White

Education Possibilitarian, Artist, Writer, Doula, Mentor, Aviatrix, Breast Cancer Survivor, Pilot-in-Command at Habitat for Aviation


In the spring of 2022, Beth White emerged from a 10-month battle with breast cancer with an idea: to create an apprenticeship program at Franklin County State Airport where youth work alongside adult mentors servicing conventional and electric aircraft. A pilot and airplane mechanic apprentice herself, and with family roots in the trades, Habitat for Aviation provides an taxilane for world learning opportunities for youth and adults who love to work with their hands to enter the FAA’s apprenticeship certification track. Each day she puts systems in place that make real John Dewey’s philosophy that we “learn best what we live” – a deep throughline from her time at Antioch University New England and as Regional Director for Big Picture Learning. Each learning experience is grounded in relationships, relevance, and practice. In October, 2023, Habitat for Aviation launched its Women Build Planes program, where an all-female team of Modern Day Rosies is building an airplane at Franklin County Airport, in northwestern Vermont, to show folks everywhere that despite the fact that only 2.6% of airplane mechanics are female, women BUILD, FLY, and FIX airplanes.

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