The Hagan Hangar: A Family’s Legacy Takes Wing at Western Michigan University
It's not quite the Hagan College of Aviation at Western Michigan University, but it's getting close.
That's because three of the Hagan siblings out of Flat Rock, Mich., have -- or will soon have -- connections to Western's highly respected aviation program: older brother Justin, who is now in Envoy Air's training program for first officers; sister Jillian, a part of the college's current squadron of flight instructors; and Jacob, a high school senior who will enroll in WMU's curriculum in aviation flight science in the fall.
Their decision to seek careers in the aviation industry is understandable because, as the saying goes, the nuts don't fall very far from the tree: Dad Dennis is an A&P (airframe and powerplant) technician for Delta and Mom Beth works for Delta Elite Services.
"Growing up," says Justin, "we took lots of non-rev flights out of Detroit Metro to go on vacations. We kind of grew up seeing lots of planes at the airport."
Justin is the Hagan who led the family's way toward Kalamazoo and Western's base of aviation operations in Battle Creek. "Although my parents worked for Delta, coming out of high school I really didn't know what I wanted to do," he says. "I had some interest in aviation and I thought planes were cool."
That kind of pointed him toward a career as a pilot. Research introduced Justin, a 2018 graduate of Flat Rock High School, to what Western had to offer. A tour of the WMU campus and what he saw at the college's base at Kellogg Field made the sale.
Four years and almost 24 months as a certified flight instructor later, he had his degree in aviation flight science and was headed for his training with Envoy, the regional airline that has working relationships with Delta. He recently passed his "ATP check ride" for Envoy's fleet of Embraer 175s.
Sister Jillian, a member of Flat Rock High's senior class of 2021, was fascinated by aviation as she grew up virtually surrounded by the industry. When she observed her brother's progress and contentment at WMU, she decided to follow in his footsteps by enrolling in its "outstanding aviation program." Before earning her degree in the fall of 2024, Jillian, like Justin, worked in "Line Services" at the college and is currently a flight instructor as well.
In "Line Services, she says, "I gained hands-on experience with various airport operations, including fueling, towing and stacking aircraft." Jillian, too, is on a course toward a career in the sky. She's part of the Delta Propel pilot-recruitment initiative at Western and is aiming toward joining Endeavor Air when her days at WMU are over.
Meanwhile, there is little brother Jacob back in the family's 10,000-folks home community in Wayne County southwest of Detroit. He's earning his own stack of credentials at Flat Rock High -- membership on the student council and in its National Honor Society chapter, as well as participation on the track and football teams. As if he's prepping for the No. 1 seat in an airliner's cockpit in the future, Jacob served as the captain of Flat Rock's gridiron squad this past season.
Jacob heading for Western and aviation flight science has long seemed like a "no-doubter." "I saw my siblings go through the program and graduate," he says. "They would always tell me how great it was and about all of the amazing things that go on at WMU. Now I will find out for myself."
What Jacob will eventually find out is the extent of the support available to make certain that he succeeds in his goals. Justin and Jillian echo each other's sentiments in this respect -- something like this: "The leads and chiefs in flight operations have been incredibly supportive, guiding me throughout my time at WMU as both a student and an instructor. Like our professors, they were always there to answer questions and offer advice. They made flight training fun and brought challenges as well. They made me the best I can be."
They also share the value of their version of "paying it forward."
"The best part of my job," says Jillian about her stint as a flight instructor, " is working with students. I enjoy guiding them through their training because I was once in their shoes. I understand the challenges they face. My goal is to make their experience at WMU as rewarding and fulfilling as mine was."
"You can't beat watching students succeed," Justin agrees. "You can't beat helping students pass their check rides, their stage checks and their progress checks. You can't beat answering a student's question and seeing the light go on, in telling a student what he or she needs to do when it comes to flight training, and then watching them do it."
The Hagan duo can also offer insights into the challenges current students face, such as learning to balance the demandsof flight training, classes and work. "Initially," Jillian says, "managing a full course load while flying and working felt overwhelming. However, over time, I developed better time-management skills and found ways to adapt, making it much easier to handle the workload effectively."
"Balancing taking classes and flight training at the same time was always a challenge," Justin says. "But in this career, you are always learning." These are the kinds of perspectives that the Hagans want to pass on to not only incoming brother Jacob but also to the next generation of aviation professionals and pilots.
"As a flight instructor," Jillian says, "I give back by mentoring students, helping them build skills and confidence. I share insights from my own journey to guide them through challenges. WMU played a key role in my growth and it's important to me to give some of that back. I believe that students who have an instructor who was once in their shoes provides encouragement and a strong support system."
While also not forgetting the bonuses and benefits that accrue with their chosen field -- notably scratching the itch to travel and see the planet. But there is more.
Justin remembers the satisfaction of flying his parents along the Lake Michigan coastline aboard a G7 Cirrus, piloting one of the WMU Cirrus fleet from Knoxville in Tennessee to its home port in Battle Creek, and overseeing students on training flights up to Traverse City, which included a visit to the town's renowned ice-cream shop.
"Some of my favorite memories at WMU come from working the line and flying," Jillian says. "I've made great friends while working 'line.' Some of the best are working summer-evening shifts."
All of this has not been lost on Jacob across the state in Flat Rock where he sensed the passion of his siblings. Sitting alongside Justin on a flight to South Bend, Ind., was "a cool experience," but making more of an impression was experiencing "the sense of a strong community that is brought to WMU."
That might be the best recruitment pitch of them all.