By Chloe Drieu
Kodey Bogart ’22 M.S., ’25 Av.D. has never been one to follow a straight path. Today, she is CEO of KB Aviation Solutions, a consulting firm helping aviation companies build safety management systems and author of the Helo GirlsTM children’s book series, which introduces girls to the exciting world of helicopter missions. However, her journey into the skies began in an unexpected place.
A Chance to Fly
At 17, Bogart joined the military. Two years later, she boarded her first morale flight. Only then did aviation appear on her radar.
“I just absolutely love it,” she recalls. “I loved how busy the pilots were, how they were always doing something. It was super fun.”
That flight planted a seed, but for Bogart, becoming a pilot felt like an impossible dream. She had poor eyesight, and at the time, military aviation required nearly perfect vision. Then, a door cracked open.
In the early 2000s, the U.S. Army and Navy began researching refractive surgery, a corrective procedure—including LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)—that alters the cornea to improve how the eye focuses light. The experimental program was designed to test whether service members who underwent the surgery could safely meet pilot standards.
Enthused by the innovation, Bogart’s mentor encouraged her to apply, and she was accepted. After undergoing the surgery and passing the rigorous flight physicals, she was cleared for training.
By May 2004, she had entered Army flight school, beginning what would become a distinguished 21-year career as a helicopter pilot.
“It was life-changing,” Bogart says. “One small opportunity shifted the entire trajectory of my career.”
A Decorated Career
During her Army career, Bogart flew the UH-60 Black Hawk on medical evacuation missions, transporting injured soldiers from combat zones to hospitals. She served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, during which she quickly proved her skill under pressure. For her service, she was awarded two Air Medals and the prestigious Sikorsky Rescue Award, an honor given to pilots who demonstrate extraordinary skill and bravery in saving lives.
The cockpit taught Bogart disciplines, resilience and teamwork.
Over time, she found herself just as fascinated by what happened on the ground. Specifically, she became intrigued by aviation safety—first, as a pilot, and then, as a flight safety advisor, digging into regulations, processes and the human side of risk.
“I’m one of those book nerds,” she laughs. “I really liked regulations. But more than that, I loved helping organizations get better.”
It was this passion that eventually guided her next career move.
KB Aviation Solutions
Now, she leads KB Aviation Solutions, a company she founded to provide consulting and training in Safety Management System (SMS) development and implementation. SMS is a structured, organizationwide approach to managing safety, identifying hazards, reducing risks and creating a culture of accountability.
Her company supports aviation operators of all shapes and sizes, from small businesses to larger corporations. Its services including auditing, safety program design, flight data monitoring and compliance training.
In addition, Bogart lectures widely and has published articles as an expert for leading aviation news outlets. For her, the work is much more than checking all the boxes. Her goal is to help organizations build systems that fit their unique operations. In other words, safety isn’t one-size-fits-all. It must be practical, tailored and embraced by the people on the ground, she says.
Storytelling for Safety
Bogart is equally passionate about a very different venture: children’s literature. Through Helo GirlsTM, she creates mission-specific stories in which female pilots take the lead in firefighting, air ambulance and even law enforcement.
The books are fun adventures and intentionally “safety forward.” Characters conduct preflight checks, practice teamwork and model situational awareness. It transforms aviation safety into narratives children can enjoy.
“It’s kind of like Minecraft,” she explains. “Every block builds on the next. My experience as a pilot and safety expert gave me the foundation to create stories that are inspiring and practical.”
Her novel idea came from her own experience growing up without seeing female pilots represented in the media. Bogart recalls never having bad books in which the pilot looked like her, so she wanted to create that for the next generation.
The impact has been powerful. At an airshow in Lakeland, Florida, Bogart recalls seeing a little girl spot Helo GirlsTM on display. Tugging at her mother’s hand, she exclaimed, “Mommy, she looks like me!”
For Bogart, those five words were unforgettable.
“If a little girl can pick up a helicopter book and see herself in that role, she knows she can do it, too,” she says.
She also often receives messages from parents across the world, sharing photos and videos of their children reading her books.
“The fact that they reach out to me means a lot.”
The Future Takes Flight
Looking back, Bogart sees her career as a combination of persistence, mentorship and resilience. When asked what advice she’d give her younger self or any girl stepping into a male-dominated field, she says:
“Believe in yourself. Leave the self-doubt behind. We, as women, often think we’re not good enough, but if you put your mind to it, study and work hard, you can achieve it.”
As for the future of aviation, Bogart dreams of a world where gender isn’t even part of the conversation.
“It should come down to qualifications, competencies and personality,” she says firmly. “Are you the right person for the role? That’s all that should matter.”
For Bogart, the sky is not a limit. It’s an open invitation. Through her work in safety, leadership and storytelling, she’s making sure the next generation knows it’s invited, too.
This piece was featured in the fall/winter 2025 edition of Reinvented Magazine.
