Dawn Kolbet, Senior Aircraft Technician at Airbus Helicopters in the US

“Electronics is the ability to take flight,” shares Dawn, a senior aircraft technician at Airbus whose career within the aviation sector has seen a harmonious fusion of her propensity for all things technical and a desire to fly. Her career, which spans 30 years, started in the US Navy, where she firmly situated herself as the only woman in her team, and one of the few women to perform search and rescue operations within the service. Reflecting on her experiences and the positive changes she has come to witness, Dawn imparts the importance of family, perseverance, and the impact of having a network of support.

Airbus Helicopters: Can you tell us about your current role and where you are based?
Dawn Kolbet: I am at Airbus in Columbus, Mississippi, where we do helicopter completions and final assembly lines, start to finish for civilian and military aircraft. I am a lead in the electrical back shop. We build the wiring harnesses for all the different systems aboard the aircraft. We also build for foreign entities and other Airbus affiliates. And we are also one of the very few who have a prototype wire stamping machine that we had the pleasure of getting from France. We are a pretty fast-paced, upscale, wiring harness shop.

Airbus Helicopters: What exactly inspired you to join the aerospace industry and start your career in the US Navy?
Dawn Kolbet: I wanted to pay tribute to one of my father's brothers. My dad is one of 10 children and one of his oldest brothers served in World War II and was lost at sea for 26 days as the result of being sunk at the Battle of Midway, and I made a choice to be his follow up in the military. 
Also, I wanted to fly. I wanted to see what it was like to be somewhere other than a little bitty town in the US and see the world. And luckily, with the aerospace industry, that then turned into a career path that I have had now for 31 years.

Airbus Helicopters: What changes have you witnessed over the past few decades in the aviation sector?
Dawn Kolbet: What I have noticed is as technology has grown, women in aviation have also grown. We have also become a “let's work smarter, not harder” industry. It doesn't matter who brings their input to the table, what matters most is if it works. The biggest thing I've seen change in the STEM environment is it's become less taboo to not fit the status quo of what everybody else thinks the aerospace industry should look like. Some of the most intelligent minds in the aerospace industry today are women. And that to me is a huge improvement over three decades ago.

Airbus Helicopters: Is there any valuable advice that you'd like to impart or any recommendations you'd like to share with young girls aspiring to pursue a career in aviation or the STEM sector? 
Dawn Kolbet: Actually, probably my best advice for any of them is to always remember that you're trailblazing. You're leaving a path behind you for others to get to follow in. So, if you're dead set to be that pilot, to be an A&P mechanic, a helicopter electrician, an avionics technician, whatever it is, the path is not completely paved - you’ve got to work for it. And a lot of times you'll have to work harder for it. But the one thing to remember is, the person coming behind you won't - they'll have it a little bit easier. They'll have a little less ground they have to conquer. And above all, you have to remember, no matter what you do, somebody sees you as a role model. So instead of trying to lead the people around you, be the steward of the people around you, find out what they need to succeed and help them get there.

Airbus Helicopters: What was the most empowering moment throughout the course of your career?
Dawn Kolbet: I am one of the first few women in the United States Navy to get the opportunity to do search and rescue, and I also am a crash survivor. However, probably the most amazing moment for me was earning my air crew wings. Being able to fly for the US military was one of the most empowering moments of my entire life.

Airbus Helicopters: What's something that you discovered about yourself over the past several years?
Dawn Kolbet: I think the biggest thing I've learned about myself is that it's OK to not be one of the boys. It's okay to stand out and step up and not be mediocre - it's okay to stand out and be exceptional at your job. And so, what I value the most is being able to be myself and succeed at what I do for a living while not having to feel like I have to be someone else.

Airbus Helicopters: What helped you remain focused on your goal and not feel like you had to be someone else?
Dawn Kolbet: My daughters. My daughters are the whole reason. I want women to encourage and be successful with other women. It doesn't have to be a competition. We can all succeed. We can all build each other up. 

Airbus Helicopters: What role did mentorship play in your career choice?
Dawn Kolbet: Believe it or not, when I joined the Navy, I was the only woman in my shop. There were 35 of us, and I was the only female in the entire place. Luckily, I had a senior chief in the Navy who was very supportive. And he came from the world where his mom ruled the world. And he believed that if women didn't get treated equally, he was doing her a disservice. So even though he was male and I was female and there were 34 other guys, he still made me feel like I was as important as everybody else in the room.  Also, my manager, believe it or not, has been very instrumental for me because he keeps making me a better person.  I can say I have been lucky enough with Airbus not to have just one, but to have had several bosses of that same calibre.

Airbus Helicopters: And finally, what aspect of your daily job and your everyday excites you the most?
Dawn Kolbet: The environment and the challenge. Technology increases so exponentially and aviation tends to grow in bursts. There’s a new challenge every day. My job in particular is a bit repetitive…but I don't ever see it that way. I see every day as a new chance to be better at it than I was yesterday. Again, that's the driving factor for why I do everything I do. My dad told me something when I had my oldest child and it has always informed my work ethic and the person that I am. He said, “As a parent, if you remember every day you're trying to build a better adult than you can ever be, your life will never go wrong.” This is definitely something I remind myself on a daily basis.

"Go conquer the world, ladies."

Dawn is part of the Airbus Helicopters team in Columbus, Mississippi - a site that recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. Learn more about the facility's activities and how it has impacted vertical lift throughout North America.