Your Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers
Took Office: July 1, 2019
Term Expires: June 30, 2022
AFA Election Category III
Click here to view the certified election results
Master Executive Council (MEC) Voting Member
AFA Board of Directors Member
Melissa’s first experience in the airline industry began in January 2001 when she was hired by Aloha Airlines. Based in Honolulu, Melissa enjoyed visiting exotic South Pacific destinations as well as domestic locations. Melissa became interested in serving her fellow Aloha Flight Attendants, and joined the AFA Grievance Committee in 2006. She served as support to the Grievance Committee Chairperson which included contract research and participation in arbitration hearings. Sadly her career at Aloha ended abruptly with the unexpected closure of the company in 2008.
Shortly after Aloha’s demise, Melissa was fortunate enough to be hired by Virgin America in 2008. She and her children moved to San Francisco to help this great new company become an airline people loved. In addition to her flying duties, she served in a variety of roles to include Inflight Instructor, Red Carpet Facilitator, Refresh Design Team, Inflight Team Leader and Air Transportation Supervisor.
In 2017 Melissa was appointed as the first AFA Local Council President for Virgin America Flight Attendants due to the merger with Alaska Airlines. Shortly after, she was elected as Transitional Local Council President representing San Francisco and Los Angeles, and worked hard to bring Legacy Virgin America Flight Attendants up to the standards that their Alaska counterparts enjoyed. Melissa was re-elected in 2018 to represent San Francisco-based Flight Attendants and looks forward to continue the work of bringing improvements to the Flight Attendant work group as the merger with Alaska progresses.
In addition to her experience in the airline industry, she has served as a public school teacher in Hawaii, California and Arizona.
Melissa has been living in Phoenix since 2012 and spends free time with her three children, the family dog Maggie and cat Mochi. She enjoys gardening, cooking, kayaking and working on home improvement projects.
The position of LEC Vice President is currently vacant. According to the AFA Constitution & Bylaws, when the office of LEC Vice President becomes vacant, the LEC Secretary shall act as LEC Vice President and LEC Secretary for the remainder of the unexpired term. (Article III.C.5.a.2)
James has been a San Francisco-based Flight Attendant with Virgin America for 7 years. In addition to his flying duties, he has participated in various activities with the promo team, and was one of six crew members to certify our A320 ETOPS in Miami with the FAA. In 2017, he was initially selected to certify our A321 aircraft but stepped down to accept the role as Transitional Local Council Secretary for AFA Council 35. Before coming to Virgin America, he worked for Visa’s headquarters in Foster City, CA for almost 21 years and was director of their Executive Briefing Center during his last 12 years.
James lives in San Francisco and spends his leisure playing the violin and viola with the Bohemian Club orchestra at their San Francisco city club, as well as attends several yearly events at the Bohemian Grove in the Russian River.
Brad has been a San Francisco-based Flight Attendant for over 9 years starting with Virgin America and its early days of a few planes and a handful of flying destinations. His current AFA Union experience involves representing over 6,000 Alaska Flight Attendants in the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) and as the local Council 35 ASHSC (Air Safety Health & Security) Chairperson.
Brad says, “It has been very satisfying supporting fellow Flight Attendants by educating them about the Union and its functions, responding to workplace safety concerns and arriving to solutions in these two highly active and engaging Union roles over the last three years.”
Currently residing in San Jose, California, Brad enjoys exploring the coast, hiking, cooking and spending time with his family any opportunity he gets.
Brad is looking forward to his continuation of working with the Council 35 officers: Melissa, Aladrian and James in his new role as the Council Representative.