Meet Mark D. Harper

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mark D. Harper. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mark D. below.

Mark D. , so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

My optimism is rooted in faith, purpose, and the potential I see in the next generation. I started Cornerstone Aviation Academy with the belief that aviation can be more than a career—it can be a calling, a way out, a new beginning. I see young people—many of whom come from underserved communities—step into a hangar or sit in a flight simulator for the first time, and something lights up in their eyes. That moment is where my hope lives.

I’m optimistic because I believe deeply in the mission God placed on my heart. I’ve seen what happens when you give young people the tools, mentorship, and space to dream. They rise. They lead. They become changemakers—not just in aviation, but in their families and communities. That’s what keeps me moving forward, even when the odds are tough. Because when you’re building something bigger than yourself, hope isn’t optional—it’s necessary.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My story is not one of privilege—it’s one of calling. I didn’t grow up without access to private airfields or a family legacy in aviation. But I did grow up with a vision. A vision shaped by faith, by struggle, and by the weight of knowing that someone needed to make room for the next generation, especially for the kids no one thought would ever touch the sky.

As an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation and a descendant of the Cherokee Freedmen, I carry a legacy of people who survived what was meant to break them. Enslaved, removed, pushed to the margins—and still, they built. Still, they dreamed. That’s in my DNA. And that same resilience is what I now pour into the young people we serve through Cornerstone Aviation Academy.

Cornerstone was born in 2020, right in the heart of the pandemic. COVID devastated this nation. It took lives, broke systems, and left deep holes across nearly every industry. Aviation was no exception. Flights stopped. Pilots left. Mechanics disappeared. The workforce pipeline collapsed almost overnight, and what was already fragile became critical.

But in the middle of that storm, God gave me a vision: an aviation academy that wouldn’t just train students, but heal them. Restore families. Inspire hope. Provide structure in a time when everything felt like chaos. We created a military-style academy not just to prepare youth for flight—but to prepare them for life.

What makes Cornerstone special isn’t just our curriculum. It’s our cause. We’re focused on reaching youth who are often overlooked—Native kids, Black and Brown youth, children in foster care, young people growing up in rural or broken homes. We give them more than an education—we give them purpose, identity, and belonging. When they walk through our doors, we don’t see their trauma. We see their future.

We’re now launching a statewide Aviation and Space Education (ASVED) tour in 2025, reaching underserved schools in Kansas with immersive STEM and aerospace programming. We’re establishing a federally aligned Aircraft Mechanic Apprenticeship Program through strong collaboration with Kansas City, Kansas Community College, Aviation Technical Services, and Kansas Workforce. This isn’t just job training—it’s economic empowerment. It’s a generational impact.

Every summer, we host ACE Camps—aviation experiences for students aged 12 to 16 that expose them to real careers, real equipment, and real people who reflect their backgrounds. These moments change lives. A student who thought college was out of reach walks away saying, “I want to fly.” A teen who’s never seen someone in uniform who looks like them says, “I can be that.”

And in a country still grappling with inequality, broken systems, and rising division, we are choosing to build. We are choosing to believe. We are choosing to fly.

Cornerstone Aviation Academy is more than a school. It’s a declaration. A statement that no matter where you come from, the sky belongs to you too.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

We have been building this movement from the ground up—with no major funding, no corporate backing, and no guarantees. Just faith, resilience, and a shared commitment to our calling. This isn’t a business built on profit—it’s a purpose-driven mission built on people.

What makes this journey extraordinary is the strength of those standing beside me. Our Board of Directors has been unwavering. These are not figureheads—they are frontline leaders. They show up not for credit, but for the community. They believe, as I do, that every child—no matter their background—deserves a chance to rise. They’ve stayed through the hard seasons, prayed through the uncertain ones, and worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help build something bigger than any one of us.

And then there are our Friends of the Board—the quiet warriors, the encouragers, the connectors, the ones who may not hold titles, but hold us up. They’ve shared their resources, lent their voices, offered wisdom, and opened doors. They believe in the dream even when it’s still on paper. Their support has turned ideas into impact.

Together, we’ve held strategy sessions around kitchen tables. We’ve sacrificed time, poured in our own resources, and leaned on one another when the burden felt too heavy. But still, we keep building. Because this is about legacy, not ego. It’s about healing and hope. It’s about showing our young people that the skies belong to them, too.

To anyone trying to build a vision without a budget, don’t give up. Start with your “why.” Surround yourself with people who believe in the mission more than the spotlight. The money will come. The recognition will come. But the real work? That happens in the trenches. That happens with people who love what they’re building more than what they’re gaining.

We have been building this dream with faith, community, and fire in our hearts—and we’re not done yet.

We are just getting started.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Yes, we are absolutely looking for people to collaborate with—because no movement worth building is built alone.

Cornerstone Aviation Academy was created to do more than teach aviation. We’re here to heal, to uplift, and to launch dreams that were never supposed to take flight. And to do that, we need people—people with heart, with purpose, and with a willingness to build something bigger than themselves.

We’re calling on educators, engineers, aviation professionals, school districts, flight schools, universities, tribal nations, nonprofits, and anyone else who believes that equity in the skies starts on the ground. We’re looking for collaborators who understand that talent is everywhere—but opportunity isn’t. That’s what we’re here to change.

We need thought partners. We need mentors. We need allies who can help us expand our programs, amplify our message, and open doors that have been closed for too long. Whether you’re a seasoned aviation veteran or a passionate community leader, there’s a place for you in this work.

If you’re reading this and feel even a spark of connection, follow that. Visit www.csaa.life or email us directly at [email protected]. Tell us your story. Tell us why this matters to you.

Because we’re not just building an aviation academy—we’re building a movement. And movements are made by people like you.

Let’s build together

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.csaa.life
• Instagram: Cornerstone Aviation Academy
• Facebook: Cornerstone Aviation Academy