Aviation nonprofit, The Brock Foundation Inc., soars to new heights with Microsoft Azure

The diversity gap in aviation

Within the 12.6% of African Americans in the U.S. population, less than 2% of them work within the aviation industry.  This small percentage reflects a larger scale issue within underserved communities as a whole: lack of representation. Though the numbers show the dire need for increased diversity in varied career fields, such as the aviation industry, these numbers have only encouraged the aviation nonprofit, The Brock Foundation, Inc., to rewrite the numbers.

Founding of The Brock Foundation, Inc.

Founded by Omar Brock, the Brock Foundation’s story began with his passion for flight, but he was also met with the staggering realization that there is a large diversity gap in the aviation field. To provide others the access to explore the world of aviation, Brock set flight on creating that space through his own nonprofit organization.

The Brock Foundation has enforced a mission in boosting diversity in the aviation field by engaging and educating young minorities, preparing them to become high-performing aerospace professionals in the future. Young minds are given access to free education and career guidance through mentorships and classes from aerospace professionals, equipping students with the skills needed to succeed. Even better, the students are being supported by mentors who look just like them. 

Navigating challenges during the pandemic

While the pandemic of COVID-19 brought a sense of uncertainty to the masses, Brock battled with figuring out a way to maintain his nonprofit’s mission while also keeping young kids encouraged on their own paths toward aviation careers. Because the world had begun to switch to a more virtual setting, Brock faced an issue in finding software that would allow his nonprofit to make an easier transition to online education, even though the world of aviation is a hands-on learning process. The aim was to create a digital platform that could advance the nonprofit technologically and find cost-effective services aligned with the foundation’s mission. This initiative led Brock to discover Microsoft’s Nonprofit Tech Acceleration (NTA) Program.  

Microsoft NTA solutions: The Azure platform

Since partnering with Microsoft NTA, the nonprofit was granted access to the Microsoft Azure platform. With Azure, partners get free access to cloud services that help scale operations in a cost-efficient way, manage their data securely, use AI to create innovative solutions, and access grants and free resources to get started. 

“Azure has been so fundamental,” stated Brock. “Not only are we able to provide that distance learning for those schools that are not in the same state, but we were also able to provide that free curriculum for them and videos of their instructors teaching.”

This tool allowed Brock’s foundation to teach their curriculum via a digital platform for scholars in the community and nationwide. Utilizing the Azure platform into the foundation's business practice enabled Brock and his team not only continue their work throughout the pandemic but also focus more on their mission and better serve their communities for the long term.

Despite not being proficient in the Azure technology, Brock received personal guidance from the NTA concierge team, aiding him with step-by-step instructions on streamlining new processes into practice. This ultimately made the training process for Brock and his team members a more approachable and ease-filled experience.

“They picked up, returned my calls, and took me step-by-step to help me execute what it is in Azure that I was trying to do at that particular time,” said Brock.

Flying towards success: Community impact

The Brock Foundation’s successes have been highly notable in the aviation field, especially since partnering with the NTA program. At their Gift of Flight events, the foundation has drawn 1,000 attendees annually and holds a 100% conversion rate of event attendees to ground school applicants. Within their ground school and flight academy, they have received an average of 100 applicants per semester, accepting 15-30.

The NTA partnership gave The Brock Foundation the proper technological tools and resources that allowed them to enhance business on the back end while still advocating for youth in the community interested in the aviation field, regardless of being in a digital or physical space.

“I highly recommend the NTA program to other nonprofit organizations, especially new ones. The NTA Program has been monumental for our development, advancing our mission of increasing minority professionals in the aerospace field,” said Brock.

What started as a dream in building space for future aviation leaders soon came to fruition for Brock. Through the support of the NTA program and his community, Brock’s visions of propelling diversity in the aviation field have become a reality.