Shelly deZevallos '04

President of West Houston Airport

Dr. Shelly Lesikar deZevallos, President of West Houston Airport, started sweeping hangars at eight years old at the privately owned – public use FAA Reliever airport that is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country with the oldest operating flight school in Houston, Texas (since 1966).  She previously worked for Cessna Aircraft Company selling and demonstrating the piston aircraft line and with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association advocating and working alongside policy decision makers supporting and testifying at legislatures discussing the importance and value of the general aviation industry.

As an active pilot with over 5,000 hours of flight time and advocate of aviation and airport safety, she was appointed and served at the United States Department of Transportation Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee (SOCAC) in 2019.  Currently she is a Board Member for the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and sits on the Boeing Aviation and Aerospace Safety IAB at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. She volunteers as a director at the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council in Houston, Texas, and Chairs the TxDot Aviation Advisory Committee. 

She earned her BA undergraduate degree from the University of Texas, her MBA from Texas A&M University and her Doctorate in Aviation and Space Science. She volunteers and does research with the National Academy of Sciences’ Transportation Research Board. 

Shelly, her husband  – also a pilot – and twin daughters reside in Houston, Texas.