Kimberly Perkins is an airline pilot and Human Factors specialist with over two decades of experience in both business aviation, flying Gulfstream 650s, and commercial airlines, currently piloting the Boeing 787. Her extensive international experience, including postings in Malaysia and Nigeria, has informed her academic pursuits. Kimberly earned her doctorate from the University of Washington, where her research centered on optimizing risk mitigation through advanced sociotechnical skills training. She continues her research through her role as an honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne and as a Research Scientist at the University of Washington..

Kimberly’s current research focuses on leveraging AI capabilities to enhance the resilience of sociotechnical systems, with a particular emphasis on providing pilots with practical tools to operationalize international pilot competencies.

Kimberly has a strong commitment to humanitarian work, having previously co-founded and operated Aviation for Humanity, a nonprofit dedicated to delivering school supplies to underfunded schools around the world. She now serves on the board of Rise Up and Read, a nonprofit focused on reducing toxic stress for refugee, migrant, and asylum-seeking children by promoting early literacy and attachment.

She is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and serves on the CAE Human Performance Excellence (hpX) Council. Additionally, she co-founded Empirical Aero, a consultancy focused on improving aviation safety culture. Additionally, Kimberly is an active member of Women in Aviation, the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, and other industry organizations committed to fostering a more inclusive aviation industry.