First Generation Student to Captain: How One CAU Alumni is Inspiring the Next Generation of Aviators
At six years old, Jesus Gallegos had the opportunity to sit in the captain's seat of a Boeing 737 while travelling from Ontario, California to Mexico City with his family. Years later, he became a captain himself at GoJet Airlines.
Gallegos grew up in Banning, California, where careers in aviation often felt distant and inaccessible. Originally planning to pursue criminal justice after high school, he found himself continuously drawn back to the idea of flying planes.
Without any connections to aviation and finances presenting a major obstacle, the path forward felt unclear—until he found California Aeronautical University (CAU).
“The biggest reason why I chose CAU centered around aviation - everyone there had some sort of connected to aviation,” he explained. “No matter what you're majoring in, we're all there for a similar reason.”
Through scholarships, tuition reductions, and financial aid, Gallegos said CAU helped make flight training possible.
“Thankfully, I had lots of support from the financial department,” he said. “CAU helped me figure out a plan to actually get to my goal.”
As a first-generation student entering a new environment, Gallegos admits the beginning of flight training was challenging. He discovered a new level of confidence when he became a certificated flight instructor (CFI).
“Everything started clicking to me when I became a flight instructor,” he explained.
Gallegos later served in leadership roles at CAU before accepting a position with GoJet Airlines as a First Officer based at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. In January of 2026, he upgraded to Captain.
“It meant all my efforts finally paid off,” he said.
While Gallegos has built a successful aviation career, he remains connected to the community where he grew up. He works closely with Banning High School’s AVID program, which supports underrepresented and first-generation students pursuing higher education.
For Gallegos, representation matters.
“Coming from Southern California, the Inland Empire, a lot of people don’t go into higher education,” he said. “I stop by the high school to share experiences with students and show the love of aviation to people who haven’t had the opportunity to be exposed.”
Through his involvement with AVID, some students from his community have begun pursuing aviation careers of their own, including careers in aircraft maintenance and flight.
As the son of parents from Mexico, Gallegos says being able to communicate with Spanish-speaking passengers and represent his community on the flight deck carry special meaning.
Gallegos is working toward his next goal: flying for United Airlines through United Aviate. CAU students are eligible for United Aviate, a program that offers mentorship and provides a direct pathway to United for qualified pilots.
Gallegos credits his family for supporting him through his aviation career. He recalls a moment where he was able to take his mom on a first-class trip to Switzerland, her first time leaving North America.
“Seeing her enjoy the fruits of my labor was really nice,” he recalled.
Looking back on his journey, if Jesus Gallegos could speak to himself on his first day of flight training at CAU, his words would be simple:
“We made it.”
