First Officer Demian Harris didn’t always dream of flying. In fact, eight years ago, he was navigating the waters as a boat captain in Key West when a friend suggested he take a discovery flight. That single experience sparked a passion that led him to enroll in flight school at age 38 and pursue a career in aviation, following in the footsteps of his grandfather. Today, Harris flies Embraer E-Jets for Envoy and embraces every challenge with a mindset of continual improvement, inspired by the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen. His dedication to learning, love for adventure, and commitment to excellence earned him a 2024 President’s Award.

Congratulations, Demian! If you would like to nominate a deserving colleague for the 2025 President’s Award, please visit the Recognition Platform at aa.com/thanks.

What inspired you to pursue a career in aviation? Can you tell us about your career path and what led you to your current position?

My grandpa was an aviator, but I never thought I could do it myself until eight years ago. I was working as a boat captain in Key West and had a pilot friend of mine suggest that I would be good at flying. She said “it’s exactly like what you’re already doing, but I go up and down too!” I went up for a discovery flight and LOVED it. A year later, when I was 38 years old, I had enrolled in flight school determined to follow in my grandpa’s footsteps. Better late than never!

What do you believe sets your approach to work apart from others?

I believe first and foremost that you should love what you do. We spend a large chunk of our life working and it should be enjoyable. Love of the work leads to mastery.

Are there any memorable moments or significant milestones in your career that stand out to you?

My first day as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). It struck me that I was now the expert in the airplane, and I had a student that was relying on me to keep us both safe. I remember thinking to myself “I’m not ready for this.” But as the weeks and months passed, I realized that my hard work and determination had paid off and I was ready to take on this new challenge.

How do you stay motivated and maintain high standards in your work?

Kaizen is a Japanese philosophy that I was exposed to when I was young. In English, it best translates to “Can I?“ Instead of assuming that a goal is impossible Kaizen instead asks “Can I accomplish this goal? Can I do this better? Can I achieve more?” The philosophy embraces an attitude of continual improvement over the attitude that something is just good enough. I’ve come to love and embrace this philosophy throughout my life and try to make improving myself a daily activity. This means hitting the books daily to learn something new and always trying to make my next flight better than my last one. The progress isn’t always quick, but over time I look back and see how far I’ve come and it encourages me to keep asking if I can go farther.

What is your favorite part about working at Envoy?

The travel! I love going new places and experiencing new things. Whether traveling to see an old friend, a national park, or even just trying out a new foods on a Mexico overnight, these experiences give both my days off (and even my work days) a sense of adventure that I love and appreciate.

Are there any hobbies or interests outside of work that you’re passionate about?

I love doing yoga! I try to make it a twice a day habit especially when I’m working. Yoga combines stretching with mindful breathing to help energy levels, stress, and fitness. A power yoga session in the morning is a good workout and helps to focus my mind for the day ahead. In the evening, I like to do a wind down yoga session to release tension and increase relaxation before bed. I’m drawn to the mindfulness aspects of it, as mindful attention and situational awareness are key aspects of my job as a pilot, but being able to get in a good workout or a relaxing stretch without leaving my hotel room is a huge bonus!