Melissa Osborne

LEC President

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 as Council 35 President in 2018, 2019 and 2022 representing San Francisco-based Flight Attendants.

In 2019 Melissa was sworn in as delegate of the Maricopa Area Labor Federation (MALF) and in 2022 was appointed as Mobilization Chair. Melissa feels passionately about supporting the labor movement in Arizona and being a part of MALF provides her with the opportunity to represent the interests of working people at the state and local level.
Melissa has been a resident of Phoenix for over 10 years and spends free time with her three grown children, dog and three Persian cats. She enjoys gardening, kayaking, hiking and working on home improvement projects.

email sfo.lecp@afaalaska.org
tel (623) 276-8645

Virginia Fritz

LEC Vice President

Virginia has been a San Francisco based flight attendant since 2015 when she started her career at Virgin America. She has always had a passion for aviation since traveling as an unaccompanied minor at 5 years old. Her desire for aviation has led to working on a Zeppelin, being a Gate Agent, and an ATS. When Alaska Airlines bought Virgin America and she became a member of AFA, she jumped at the first opportunity to fight for Flight Attendants by serving as the C35 Scheduling Chairperson beginning 2018. In 2020 she was privileged to be able to join the PBS Committee and assist flight attendants feel confident bidding. She is honored and humbled to be elected to serve as the C35 LEC Vice President in 2022.

When not advocating for fellow flight attendants, Virginia resides in Los Gatos, CA with her supportive and loving husband as well as their adorable pup, Strudel.

email sfo.lecvp@afaalaska.org
tel (408) 489-8200

James Ikehara

LEC Secretary

James has been a San Francisco-based Flight Attendant since 2011 when he started his career with Virgin America. In addition to his flying duties, he participated in various activities with VX’s 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 the A321 aircraft but stepped down to accept the role as transitional local council secretary for Council 35. After being reelected secretary in 2019, he was elected again in 2022, and appreciates all SFO-based FA’s for their encouragement and support. He looks forward to working with our members and LEC officers for the new 3 year term.

Before starting his aviation career, 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 on the Big Island and when his schedule allows, spends his leisure playing the violin and viola with the Bohemian Club orchestra at their San Francisco city club, as well as attends yearly events at the Bohemian Grove in the Russian River.

email sfo.lecs@afaalaska.org
tel (415) 289-9011

Brad Young

Council Representative

Brad has been a San Francisco-based Flight Attendant starting in 2010 with Virgin America in its early days of a few planes and a handful of destinations. Since the merger in 2017, he now has years of experience under his belt with the AFA representing over 6,500 Alaska Flight Attendants. Shortly after the Alaska Airlines and Virgin America merger, he was newly appointed local Air Safety, Health & Security Chairperson for the new SFO base.

Some of Brad’s other key roles are representing Alaska’s Flight Attendants in the following two essential programs–The Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) and Fatigue Review Board (FRB). Brad is also vice MEC Chairperson of the Air Safety, Health & Security Committee. In 2020/21 he also participated in the Boeing 737 MAX FAA proving runs and participated in delivery of the first MAX jet to Alaska Airlines as working Crew on its delivery flight ‘home’ to SeaTac.

Brad is eager to continue working with the newly re-elected Council 35 officers Melissa Osborne and James Ikehara and newly elected Vice President, Virginia Fritz. Brad is also continuing in his role representing the San Francisco base after also being re-elected as Council Representative for an additional three year term. He would like to give a big thanks to the local members for their continued support and allowing their voices to be heard.

email sfo.cr@afaalaska.org
tel (916) 508-3503