Aviation science graduates continue family tradition

Riverside, Calif. (Jan. 7, 2025) — Two recent graduates in the aviation science program at California Baptist University were destined for the aviation field considering their families. 

Trevor Bradley, who earned a bachelor’s in aviation flight, is going into the Air Force Reserve. He is slotted to fly the F-35, just like his grandfathers, uncles and father who also flew fighter jets.  

Ashley Scott, who earned a bachelor’s in aviation management, will be training to be an air traffic controller. Once trained, she will be able to direct her mom and sister, who are pilots for a commercial and regional airline, respectively. Her great-aunt was the first pilot in the family, during World War II; her grandfather was also a pilot during World War II and later flew for an airline. Other family members have been in aviation as pilots and a flight attendant. Not to be left behind, Ashley Scott’s dad has a private pilot license.   

Ashley Scott, right, and her sister, Anna. 

“If you're born into this family, chances are pretty high you're going to do something in aviation,” said her mom, Lauren Scott. “I'm so fortunate and blessed to be able to be a part of aviation, so I'm thrilled that they've picked it. I never really tried to push it, but my own passion for aviation has probably spilled over into their own excitement.” 

While Ashley Scott wanted to be in aviation, she decided to find a different role when she realized flying made her air sick. She has found ways to make it less severe and is working on her private pilot license. 

“I figured out there's somebody on the other side (of the radio), and now that's going to be my job – in air traffic control,” Scott said. “I’ve had such great role models to look up to as examples. I feel like that's my calling now.” 

Scott will do air traffic control training for about three months in Oklahoma City.  

“I've seen the flight side of things and I'm excited to see the air traffic control side of things,” Scott said. “The organization of traffic and sequencing aircraft, that makes me tick.”  

Scott, who is from Las Vegas, was recruited to CBU for the swim team. Then she found out about the university’s aviation program. 

“The professors in the aviation program all encouraged me. They would pray for me. They would meet with me one-on-one to see how things were going and mentor me and give me their advice and life experience,” Scott said. “I learned from that and was a sponge, taking it all in.”  

 

Trevor Bradley, third from left, and his family. 

Meanwhile, with his dad in the Air Force, Trevor Bradley grew up around planes and moved around the country several times. He wants to have that opportunity as well. Trevor Bradley will be going into the Air Force Reserve for pilot training, with the goal of flying an F-35 for the 457 Fighter Squadron at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Texas. He was one of more than 300 who applied for the one spot to fly that jet.  

“It's an honor, and it’s a family honor, too,” Bradley said. “I’ll serve my country, and I will be the third-generation fighter pilot.” 

His father, Scott Bradley, said it is exciting to have Trevor to follow in those footsteps. He and his wife planted seeds but did not push Trevor one way or another, just like his father did with him. 

“It was just our way of life. I thought everybody's dad was a fighter pilot,” Scott Bradley said. “We applied the same kind of strategy with Trevor. He was around airplanes and air shows from a super young age and just enjoyed watching airplanes fly, but as he got older and got to fly with my dad a little bit, he became passionate about it.” 

Trevor Bradley originally looked at CBU for the golf team and then discovered it had a flight school. During a tour of the aviation science campus with Dr. John Marselus, chair of the program, they discovered that Scott Bradley joined the 90th Fighter Squadron in Alaska one year after Marselus left after commanding it.  

Marselus influenced Trevor Bradley while at CBU, particularly through his Bible studies. 

“I took full advantage of it. The way that he leads his Bible studies are technical, but it's also a group talk. It's fellowship, and we engage and talk about Christ,” Bradley said. “It's totally grown my faith.”  

After completing service in the Air Force Reserve, Bradley’s goal is to work at United Airlines, which would also make him the third-generation pilot with the airline. Bradley did the program at CBU in 2.5 years and flew as much as possible, graduating with 875 flight hours and becoming a certified flight instructor in the process.   

“It was really a self-motivated program,” he said. “You have a lot of mentors and people that help you, but you're also able to take it in your own hands.”