Richard Córdova completed a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Science Management with a minor in Air Traffic from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico. For three of his four years at school, he worked as a Spanish language tutor identifying learning difficulties and areas needing improvement, helping with course understanding, and implementing new tutoring strategies.

In 2018, Richard began volunteering at Girls in Aviation Puerto Rico (GIAPR), a program that aims to spark early-stage female interest in the fields of aviation and aerospace through basic aviation knowledge and mentorship for those pursuing careers in these areas. As a volunteer, he helped with event logistics, tech support, and managing other student volunteers.

Upon graduation, Richard got accepted to Mentes Puertorriqueñas Acción’s Agents of Change Empowerment and Retention Program (PARACa), a fellowship program focused on the development and implementation of capacity-building plans for nonprofit organizations. Through this program, Richard became Data and Technology Officer for Filantropía Puerto Rico.

In 2021, his commitment to women’s inclusion in the workplace and his previous participation in GIAPR inspired him to join the fundraising committee of Women in Aviation International, Puerto Rico Chapter, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of women in aviation career fields and interests.